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EX   LIBRIS 
SANCTI  CAROLI 
A  PUD  HATFIELD 


UMBO*8 


LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


NIHIL  OBSTAT  : 

P.  C.  Cregan,   D.D. 

Censor  Deputatus 

IMPRIMATUR  : 

^    Michael 

A  rch iep .   Sydneien , 


FATHER    THKRRY 
in    i 8 i 9 


(From   a   miniature  bearing   his  signature) 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS 

OF    ARCHPRIEST 

JOHN  JOSEPH  THERRY 

FOUNDER  OF  THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  IN  AUSTRALIA 


BY 

Rev.   ERIS    M.   O'BRIEN 

PROFESSOR    OF   AUSTRALIAN    HISTORY    IN    ST.    PATRICK'S 
ECCLESIASTICAL    COLLEGE,    MANLY 


WITH    A    LETTER    OF    COMMENDATION    FROM 

HIS  GRACE  THE  MOST  REV.  MICHAEL  KELLY,  D.D. 
ARCHBISHOP   OF  SYDNEY 


AUSTRALIA 
ANGUS    &    ROBERTSON    LTD. 

89   CASTLEREAGH   STREET.  SYDNEY 
I  922 


JUN  2  41959 


Printed  by 
W.  C.  Penfold  &  Co.  Ltd.,  88  Pitt  Street,  Sydney,  Australia 


Obtainable  in  Great  Britain  from  The  British  Australasian 

Book-store,  51  High  Holboru,  London,  W.C.  I.,  and  all  other 

Booksellers ;  and  (wholesale  only)  from  The  Australian  Book 

Company,  16  Farringdon  Avenue,  London.  E.C.  4. 


TO 

THE  CATHOLIC   BISHOPS  AND   PRIESTS 

OF   AUSTRALIA, 

WHO   DURING  THE   PAST  CENTURY   HAVE  BUILT  WELL 

ON  THE   FOUNDATIONS  LAID   BY   FATHER  THERRY 


St.  Mary's  Cathedral, 

Sydney, 
1st  June,  1 92 1. 
The  Rev.  E.  M.  O'Brien, 

St.  Patrick's  College,  Manly. 

Dear  Rev.  Father, 

We  give  a  warm  welcome  to  your  contribution 
to  our  Church  History — the  "Life  and  Letters  of  Archpriest 
Therry."  It  is  a  praiseworthy  undertaking  to  search  past  re- 
cords and  to  set  forth  events  of  public  interest,  for  the  in- 
struction of  present  and  future  generations.  Such  is  your 
undertaking  in  seeking,  collating  and  arranging  all  extant  in- 
formation regarding  the  worthy  apostle  whom  God  gave  us  as 
a  pioneer  and  champion  of  His  Church  in  Australia.  It  has 
been  well  said  "There  is  no  true  civilization  without  religion, 
no  true  religion  but  Christianity,  no  true  Christianity  with- 
out Catholicity,  no  true  Catholicity  without  unity  of  doc- 
trine and  of  discipline,  no  unity  of  doctrine  and  discipline 
without  divine  authority;  and  there  is  no  divine  authority  on 
earth  but  that  of  the  Successor  of  St.  Peter."  The  founder 
of  this  true  religion  in  Australia  was  Father  John  Joseph 
Therry,  of  whose  missionary  career  you  give  us  an  authentic 
account.  It  is  most  welcome,  and  particularly  opportune  at 
this  period — the  centenary  of  Father  Therry's  arrival  in  Aus- 
tralia. May  God  bless  the  writer  and  the  readers. 

The  majority  of  the  Catholics  who  were  in  New  Holland 
when  Father  Therry  came  to  the  colony  had  been  transported 
from  Ireland  as  convicts,  after  the  rebellion  of  1798.    This 

vii 


viii  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

insurrection,  confined  as  it  was  to  the  vicinity  of  County 
Wexford,  was  forced  upon  the  people  there  (as  Lecky  and 
Walpole  clearly  show)  by  the  ravages  of  an  army  of  occupa- 
tion. But  behind  this  provocation  deeper  designs  were  hid- 
den; to  quote  from  Swift  MacNeill's  'Constitutional  and 
Parliamentary  History  of  Ireland  till  the  Union,'  "The  out- 
break in  Wexford  was  not  the  result  of  the  concerted  scheme 
of  the  leaders  of  the  Rebellion,  but  was  caused  by  wanton 
and  premeditated  cruelties  practised  in  order  to  precipitate 
things  to  a  crisis  before  the  schemes  of  the  leaders  were 
matured.  There  would  have  been  no  Union  but  for  the  Re- 
bellion, and  no  Rebellion  but  for  the  Union.  The  Rebellion 
was  destined  to  usher  in  the  monster  of  the  Union."  It  was, 
in  fact,  an  integral  part  of  the  transaction  which  Mr.  Glad- 
stone, on  28  June,  1886,  characterized  as  "the  blackest  and 
foulest  transaction  in  the  history  of  man." 

It  was  for  rebellion  in  such  circumstances  that  Irishmen 
were  transported  to  Australia.  Not  a  few,  of  course,  were 
criminals  who  justly  deserved  transportation;  but  the  large 
majority  were  merely  political  offenders,  and  in  their  per- 
sonal character  high-minded,  industrious  and  progressive. 
These  were  the  men  who  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  Australia  in  the  early  days ;  who,  or  whose  child- 
ren, welcomed  Father  Therry  to  these  shores,  and  stood  by 
him  through  all  the  trials  and  difficulties  of  his  sacred  mission. 

By  a  statute  of  the  colony,  all  prisoners  were  required  to 
attend  the  services  of  the  Church  of  England.  Refusal  to 
attend  was  punished  by  fifty  lashes  for  the  first  offence,  by 
one  hundred  for  the  second,  and  by  transportation  to  Norfolk 
Island— "the  hell  of  the  damned"— for  the  third.  All  orphan 
children  were  regarded  as  State  wards,  and  were  brought  up, 
despite  the  wishes  and  protests  of  their  guardians,  in  the 
Anglican  religion. 

In  1799  the  Rev.  James  Dixon,  of  Crossabeg,  County  Wex- 
ford, Ireland,  was  convicted  and  transported  for  withholding 


LETTER   OF    COMMENDATION  ix 

information  against  the  insurgents.  In  the  convict  colony- 
Father  Dixon  was  soon  recognized  as  a  man  of  a  most  peace- 
able disposition.  In  April,  1803,  a  proclamation  issued  by 
Governor  King  permitted  him  to  celebrate  Mass;  but  after 
a  year  this  indulgence  was  withdrawn.  Subsequently  Father 
Dixon  was  allowed  to  return  to  his  parish  in  Ireland. 

In  1817  Father  Jeremiah  O'Flynn  came  to  Sydney  as 
Missionary  Apostolic;  but,  as  Judge  Roger  Therry  wrote, 
"because  he  came  out  unsanctioned  by  the  British  civil 
authorities — whose  sanction  there  was  no  law  to  require — he 
was  cast  into  prison  and  sent  away  by  the  first  ship  sailing  for 
England."  What  legislative  enactments  have  ever  exceeded 
in  heartless  tyranny  and  absurdity  these  methods  of  adminis- 
tration, sanctioned  and  upheld  by  the  Home  Government  in 
the  first  years  of  the  colony  of  New  South  Wales  and  its 
dependencies  ? 

But  Father  O'Flynn's  deportation  was  instrumental  in 
arousing  public  opinion  against  the  deplorable  situation  of 
thousands  of  Catholics  at  the  Antipodes.  Influence  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  Parliament  at  Westminster,  with 
the  result  that  two  Catholic  chaplaincies  were  established,  to 
which  were  given  Government  sanction  and  a  meagre  salary. 
After  thirty-two  years  of  wilful  indifference,  the  authorities 
at  last  recognized  the  right  to  liberty  of  conscience  amongst 
the  Catholics  of  New  Holland.  When  volunteers  were  called 
for  to  fill  the  chaplaincies  thus  established,  Father  John 
Joseph  Therry  offered  his  services  and  his  life  for  the  work. 
It  is  at  this  point  that  your  main  narrative  commences. 

Your  account  of  his  life  is  based  upon  original  letters  and 
other  documents  dating  from  the  earliest  years  of  the  Church 
in  Australia.  Through  these  you  have  been  enabled  to  come 
into  close  personal  touch  with  Father  Therry;  and  you  have 
so  utilized  them  that  the  history  of  the  foundation  of  the 
Church  is  told  in  the  following  pages  largely  by  Father 
Therry  himself.    The  letters  which  he  received  and  which  he 


x  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

wrote  are  documents  of  indisputable  value.  They  speak  of 
hardships  and  obstacles  which  would  appear  to  be  insur- 
mountable. They  tell  of  his  great  trust  in  Divine  Providence ; 
how  he  strove  manfully  against  every  obstacle;  how  he 
eventually  conquered  in  the  face  of  Government  opposition — 
in  a  word,  how  he  built  up  the  great  Catholic  Church,  alone 
and  unaided,  in  the  vast  continent  of  Australia. 

Again,  may  God  bless  the  work!  With  every  good  wish 
that  you  be  fully  successful  and  gloriously  rewarded  in  the 
publication  of  the  "Life  and  Letters  of  Archpriest  Therry." 

Yours  in  Domino, 

►J<Michael, 
Archbishop  of  Sydney. 


UTS   GRACE   THE    MOST   REVEREND    MICHAEL    KELLY,    D.D., 
ARCHBISHOP    OF    SYDNEY 

(from  the  oil  painting  by  Julian  Ashton,  at  St.  Patrick's  College,  Manly) 


PREFACE 

Sixty  years  ago,  in  his  panegyric  delivered  at  the  obsequies 
of  Archpriest  John  Joseph  Therry,  Archdeacon  McEncroe 
expressed  the  hope  that  in  the  near  future  someone  with  time 
and  materials  at  his  disposal  would  write  the  Life  of  the  foun- 
der of  the  Church  in  Australia.  That  Life  might  better  have 
been  written  by  one  of  the  many  priests  who  knew  Father 
Therry  personally  and  had  worked  with  him.  But  in  all  the 
years  since  that  date  no  one  has  come  forward  to  fulfil  the 
panegyrist's  hope ;  and  the  centenary  of  the  great  missionary's 
arrival  in  Australia  seemed  likely  to  pass  with  the  bio- 
graphy still  unwritten.  Therefore,  lest  time  should  blot  out  for 
ever  the  history  of  the  early  Church  in  Australia,  I  have 
stepped  into  the  breach  in  lack  of  others  better  qualified,  and 
submit  here,  with  all  its  faults,  a  Life  and  Letters  of  Archpriest 
Therry. 

The  Life  has  taken  four  years  to  complete.  Every  avail- 
able work  bearing  on  the  early  days  of  Australia  has  been 
studied.  Moreover,  a  great  storehouse  of  information  has 
been  thrown  open  to  me  by  the  courtesy  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers, 
who  allowed  me  to  use  the  letters  left  in  the  keeping  of  that 
Society  by  Father  Therry.  Without  those  letters  this  bio- 
graphy would  have  been  worthless.  The  "Therry  Papers'"  at 
Loyola  number  about  three  thousand;  they  are  made  up  of 
letters  from  Governors,  public  officials  and  townspeople, 
diaries,  business  notices  and  early  newspapers.  All  documents 
quoted  without  other  acknowledgement  are  from  this  collec- 
tion, and  most  of  the  statements  made  without  specifying  other 
authority  are  drawn  from  the  same  source.  A  smaller  but  no 
less  important  collection  of  letters  and  papers,  relating  both 
to  Father  Therry  himself  and  to  the  history  of  the  early 
Church   in  Australia,   is   preserved  at   St.    Patrick's   College, 


xii  LIFE   OF   ARCHPR1EST    THERRY 

Manly.     Quotations   from  these  are  noted   as   from  "Manly 
Archives." 

A  few  of  the  earlier  letters  have  already  been  published 
by  the  late  Cardinal  Moran  in  his  monumental  History  of  the 
Catholic  Church  in  Australia.  The  vast  scope  of  that  History 
left  but  little  space  for  a  full  account  of  the  early  days  of  the 
Australian  Church,  and  I  feel  that  the  Cardinal  would  have 
been  the  first  to  welcome  this  more  detailed  account  of  a  period 
to  which  he  gives  but  passing  notice  in  a  general  survey. 

Throughout  these  pages  I  have  frequently  quoted  from 
other  authors,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the  information 
they  have  given.  Free  use  has  also  been  made  of  the  early 
newspapers  of  Sydney,  Hobart,  and  Melbourne,  of  early 
Church  Directories,  and  of  Commonwealth  and  State  Official 
Yearbooks.  Among  magazine  articles  dealing  with  the  period 
those  of  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Cullen  on  the  Early  Days  of  the  Church 
in  Tasmania,  published  in  Austral  Light  (1917),  have  proved 
particularly  useful.  Most  of  the  facts,  however,  I  have  learned 
from  Father  Therry's  own  papers.  To  my  mind  the  Life  is 
rendered  the  more  accurate,  original,  and  intimate  thereby. 
Wherever  a  letter  or  document  could  be  used  to  depict  clearly 
some  event  or  series  of  events,  I  have  given  it  with  little  or  no 
comment.  Of  letters  of  importance  he  usually  made  rough 
drafts;  these  have,  fortunately,  been  preserved,  and  I  have 
made  use  of  them  whenever  the  original  letter  was  not  avail- 
able, noting  where  necessary  any  corrections  and  additions 
shown  in  them.  All  documents  are  given  verbatim  et  literatim. 
AitQT  a  careful  examination  of  the  whole  collection  I  have 
rejected  about  four- fifths  as  unimportant  or  irrelevant  to  the 
scope  of  the  Life.  But  the  remaining  letters  seem  to  give  us 
a  satisfactorily  full  and  clear  account  of  the  work  and  life  of 
Australia's  pioneer  Catholic  Missionary. 

I  am  indebted  to  so  many  people  in  Australia  and  beyond 
it,  both  Catholic  and  Protestant,  that  it  is  impossible  to  men- 
tion them  all.    Let  it  suffice  to  say  that  all  have  my  sincerest 


PREFACE  xiii 

thanks.  But  a  special  feeling  of  gratitude  will  not  allow  me 
to  pass  over,  in  this  general  recognition,  some  whose  help  was 
invaluable  in  enabling  me  to  carry  out  my  project.  To  His 
Grace  the  Most  Reverend  Dr.  Kelly,  Archbishop  of  Sydney,  I 
am  particularly  indebted  for  his  encouragement,  and  for  the 
letter  of  commendation  over  an  illustrious  name,  which  is  to  me 
the  assurance  of  a  good  reception  by  the  public.  Others  whose 
kindness  has  been  of  much  assistance  are  the  Right  Reverend 
Monsignor  Hayden  of  St.  Patrick's  College,  Manly,  who 
allowed  me  the  use  of  a  large  number  of  letters  from  the 
College  Archives;  the  Jesuit  Fathers  of  Loyola;  the  Rev. 
Fathers  Corcoran,  S.J.,  and  McCurtin,  S.J. — the  latter  a  stern 
and  revered  preceptor,  to  whose  guidance  in  my  schooldays  I 
owe  more  than  can  be  expressed  in  any  words  at  my  command ; 
the  Rev.  Fathers  Kelsh  and  Cullen  of  Hobart;  the  Very  Rev. 
Dr.  Cregan  of  Springwood  College ;  and  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Sheehy, 
D.D.  The  authorities  of  Downside  College,  England,  and  of 
Carlow  College,  Ireland,  also  claim  remembrance;  as  do — 
last  but  not  least — the  officials  of  the  Mitchell  Library  of  Syd- 
ney, whose  courtesy  and  knowledge  have  been  freely  and  con- 
stantly placed  at  my  disposal. 

I  have  hopes  that  this  Life  of  Father  Therry  will  be  found 
to  be  also  a  fairly  complete  history  of  the  early  Church  in  this 
country,  so  far  as  concerns  its  first  organized  period.  After 
the  arrival  of  Dr.  Ullathorne  in  1833  the  progress  of  the 
Church  at  large  ceased  to  be  synonymous  with  the  work  of 
Father  Therry;  and  from  that  year  onwards  I  deal  mainly 
with  his  personal  career,  touching  on  general  Church  history 
only  so  far  as  his  ordinary  duties  as  a  pastor,  or  the  wider 
issues  in  which  he  personally  interested  himself,  affected  the 
advance  of  Catholicitv  in  Australia. 


Feast  of  Our  Lady,  Help  of  Christians, 

Patroness  of  the  Australian  Church 
May  24,  192 1. 


Eris  M.  O'Brien- 

St.  Patrick's  College,  Manly. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  I 

Dom  Birt  overlooks  the  importance  of  Father  Therry's  work — 
"Convict"  priests  in  Australia — Father  Dixon  permitted  to  celebrate 
Mass — Deplorable  state  of  Catholic  convicts — Estimate  of  Governor 
Macquarie' s  character  —  Father  Jeremiah  O'Flynn  in  New  Hol- 
land         pp.    i-io 

CHAPTER   II 

Agitation  in  England  for  the  appointment  of  a  chaplain  to  the 
colony  of  New  South  Wales — Dr.  Slater  given  jurisdiction  over  the 
colony — Fathers  Conolly  and  Therry  volunteer — Correspondence  with 
authorities — They  are  accepted — The  terms  of  their  faculties — They 
embark  in  the  Janus       ........     p.  11-22 

CHAPTER  III 

Arrival  at  Sydney — First  steps  to  build  a  Catholic  church — Mass 
in  the  Court-house — Governor  Macquarie  lays  down  impossible  condi- 
tions— Father  Therry  refuses  to  comply — Father  Conolly  and  Father 
Therry  disagree — Father  Conolly  departs  for  Van  Diemen's  Land — 
The  extent  of  Father  Therry's  work pp.  23-39 

CHAPTER    IV 

Father  Therry  meets  with  opposition — Commissioner  Bigge  be- 
friends him — Choice  of  a  site  for  St.  Mary's — Planning  the  church — 
Macquarie  lays  the  foundation  stone — Brisbane  succeeds  Macquarie — 
Shows  himself  more  lenient  to  Catholics — Opposition  to  the  proposed 
dimensions  of  St.  Mary's — Embarrassments — Father  Therry  offers  to 
resign  pp.  40-54 

CHAPTER   V 

Work  of  the  Mission — Attending  gaols  and  hospitals,  and  struggling 
to  build  schools — Comparison  between  the  privileges  of  the  Protestant 
Ministers  and  those  of  the  Catholic  Priest — Lack  of  Government 
sympathy — Brisbane  asks  the  Secretary  of  State  for  more  priests — The 
proselytising  system  of  the  orphan  schools — Brisbane  departs    pp.  55-68 

CHAPTER   VI 

Governor  Darling  in  command — The  dark  era  of  persecution — 
Archdeacon  Hobbes  Scott,  and  the  scope  of  the  Clergy  and  School 
Estates  Corporation — One-seventh  of  the  Colony  to  be  set  apart  for  the 
support  of  the  Church  of  England — Father  Therry  stands  alone — He 
publicly  protests  against  Catholic  disabilities — A  printer's  error  made 
the  ostensible  reason  for  silencing  his  protest — Father  Therry  sus- 
pended and  urged  to  leave  the  Colony         .         .         .         .pp.  69-77 


xvi  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

CHAPTER  VII 

A  charge  of  disloyalty  made  against  Catholics — Father  Therry 
answers  the  accusation  and  protests  again — He  is  no  longer  recognized 
as  Government  Chaplain,  and  his  salary  is  withdrawn — Further  efforts 
for  St.  Mary's — The  persecution  grows  more  violent — Attempt  to 
prevent  him  from  saying  Mass  in  the  Court-house — His  efforts  for 
the  convicts — Frightful  conditions  of  their  existence — Their  trust  in 
Father  Therry pp.  78-104 

CHAPTER  VIII 

Reply  to  Brisbane's  request  for  more  priests — Arrival  of  Father 
Daniel  Power — His  disposition  and  sarcastic  turn  of  mind — Father 
Therry  takes  over  Parramatta — Attempts  to  complete  St.  Mary's — 
Father  Therry  excluded  from  hospitals  and  gaols — In  conflict  with  Dr. 
Bowman — Lack  of  cordial  co-operation  between  Fathers  Therry  and 
Power pp.  105-123 

CHAPTER  IX 

Exchange  of  views  between  Fathers  Power  and  Conolly — Father 
Therry's  travels  cover  a  wide  area  of  the  colony — Roger  Therry 
reaches  Sydney — His  friendship  with  Father  Therry — Death  of  Father 
Power — Petition  of  1830  for  the  completion  of  St.  Mary's — Father 
Therry  re-admitted  to  hospitals  and  gaols — Arrival  of  Father 
Christopher  Vincent  Dowling — Bishop  Slater  mediates  between  the 
two  priests pp.   124-145 

CHAPTER  X 

Governor  Bourke  arrives — Sympathizes  with  Catholic  claims — Pro- 
vision made  for  four  more  priests — Arrival  of  Father  McEncroe — He 
recommends  the  appointment  of  a  Bishop — Public  moneys  lavished 
on  Anglican  Church — Dispute  about  the  area  granted  as  site  for  St. 
Mary's  —  Buildings  erected  by  Father  Therry  have  to  be  de- 
molished   pp.   146-157 

CHAPTER  XI 

Dr.  Ullathorne  appointed  Vicar-General  of  New  Holland — His 
meeting  with  Father  Therry — Misunderstandings — Dr.  Ullathorne's 
written  criticisms  of  Father  Therry  too  severe — Settlement  of  the  diffi- 
culties over  the  site  of  St.  Mary's — Governor  Bourke's  tolerant  policy 
— Four  priests  working  in  the  Mission       .         .         .         .     pp.  158-176 

CHAPTER  XII 

John  Bede  Polding  appointed  first  Bishop  of  New  Holland — His 
sympathy  and  respect  for  Father  Therry — Father  Therry  appointed 
to  the  charge  of  Campbelltown  parish — The  Church  Act  gives  equality 
to  all  religions — Father  Therry  reinstated  as  Government  Chaplain — 
He  leaves  Campbelltown— Visits  Port  Phillip  .         .         .pp.  177-192 


CONTENTS  xvii 

CHAPTER  XIII 

Review  of  history  of  the  Church  in  Tasmania  under  Father  Conolly 
— Father  Therry  begins  his  work  there — He  is  appointed  Vicar-General 
of  Van  Diemen's  Land — Death  of  Father  Conolly — Settlement  of 
the  Church  lands  dispute — Building  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Hobart. 

pp.  193-205 

CHAPTER   XIV 

Father  Therry  and  the  Tasmanian  Government  Orphanage — Pro- 
posals for  a  Catholic  orphan  school — Catholic  children  exempted  from 
attendance  at  Protestant  services — Catholic  convicts  and  overseers  still 
forced  to  attend — Quarrel  with  Major  Arney — Letters  from  Father 
Petit  Jean — Appointment  and  consecration  of  Bishop  Willson  pp.  206-221 

CHAPTER   XV 

Dr.  Ullathorne's  description  of  Bishop  Willson — He  arrives  in 
Hobart — Father  Therry  no  longer  Vicar-General — Dispute  about 
responsibility  for  Church  debts — Dr.  Polding  intervenes  unsuccessfully 
— Unfulfilled  agreements — The  dispute  referred  to  Propaganda — Father 
Therry  in  financial  difficulties — The  Attorney-General  as  arbitrator — 
Bishops  Davis  and  Murphy  also  unsuccessful — The  settlement  of  1858 

pp.  222-252 

CHAPTER  XVI 

Father  Therry  transferred  to  Melbourne — The  "Father  Matthew" 
Society  —  Relieved  by  Father  Geoghegan  —  Placed  in  charge  of 
Windsor,  N.S.W. — Building  of  St.  Anne's,  Enfield — Appointed  to  St. 
Augustine's,  Balmain — Reminiscences  of  his  life  at  Balmain — Gives 
£2,000  towards  the  enlargement  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral — Receives  the 
title  of  Archpriest pp.  253-263 

CHAPTER  XVII 

Controversy  with  Sir  William  Denison — Protest  against  Divorce 
legislation — Suggestion  for  ending  the  Maori  War — Anecdotes  of  old 
St.  Augustine's — Death  of  Archpriest  Therry — The  Lying  in  State 
and  Funeral — His  true  monument     .....     pp.  264-273 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

Father  Therry's  property  mainly  bequeathed  to  him — Official  grants 
in  lieu  of  salary — Property  at  Bong  Bong — At  Concord — At  Lidcombe 
— The  Billabong  station — The  Pittwater  grant — Coal-mining — Plans 
for  a  township  at  Pittwater — Archpriest  Therry's  Wills — The  final 
Will — Archbishop  Polding's  opinion  of  it — Disposal  of  his  property  en- 
trusted to  the  Society  of  Jesus pp.  274-286 

CHAPTER  XIX 

Dr.  Ullathorne  on  Father  Therry — Father  Therry's  courage — His 
devotion  to  children — His  hymns  and  sermons — His  work  as  Spiritual 
Director  —  His  philanthropy  —  His  far-sightedness  —  His  personal 
sanctity  pp.    287-297 


xviii  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

CHAPTER  XX 

Historical  sketch  of  the  progress  of  Catholicity,  1798-1870 — Persecu- 
tions in  Europe  counterbalanced  by  progress  in  Australia — Father 
Therry  a  potent  contributing  factor pp.  298-301 

APPENDICES 

A.  Letters  and  other  Documents  from  the  Archives  of  St.  Patrick's 
College  (Manly)  and  Loyola  (Greenwich,  N.S.W.),  which  throw  light 
on  Father  Therry's  life  and  surroundings  .         .         .     pp.  305-360 

B.  List  of  signatories  to  the  petition  of  March,  1830,  in  favour  of 
Father  Therry's  reinstatement  as  Government  Chaplain       pp.  361-369 

C.  Particulars  of  Crown  grants  in  connection  with  the  Cathedral 
of   St.   Mary,  Sydney p.   37® 

D.  Statistics  showing  the  growth  of  Catholicism  in  Australia 
during  the  last  hundred  years pp.  371-374 

E.  Chronology  pp.   37S'37b 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Father  Therry  as  a  Young  Man  (frontispiece) 

The  Most  Reverend  Michael  Kelly,  D.D.,  Arch- 
bishop of  Sydney         ------  x 

Letter    from     Governor    Macquarie    on     Convict 

Marriages              ..---„'.  32 

Letter  from  Father  Therry  on  the  same  subject  -  32 

Governor  Macquarie           ------  33 

Letter  from  Commissioner  Bigge  40 

Father  Therry's  Sketch  of  Intended  Cathedral   -  42 

John  Ready's  Contribution  to  St.   Mary's     -        -  45 

Macquarie's  Letter  fixing  Foundation  Day  -        -  46 

Design  for  Old  St.  Mary's        -----  60 

St.  Mary's  in  the  Fifties 68 

Draft  of  Father  Therry's  Gazette  Article,  June  14, 

1825        -------'-.  76 

Letter  from  Three  Prisoners 102 

Convict's  Application  to  have  his  Family  sent  out  103 

Letter  from  Roger  Therry  to  Father  Therry  -        -  130 

Father     Therry's     Application     for     Government 

Assistance  -        -        -        -        -        -        -132 

St.  Mary's  Church  and  Precincts    -  140 

St.  Joseph's  Chapel    -------  141 

Sketch  of  Site  of  St.  Mary's,  1833  -  142 

Interior  of  St.  Mary's,  1843      -----  j^g 

xix 


xx  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Archdeacon  McEncroe       -        -        -        -        -        -152 

Plan  of  St.  Mary's  Grounds,  1828   -        -        -  155 

Father  Ullathorne   -        -        -        -        -        -        -160 

Archbishop  Polding 178 

Letter  from  Father  Ullathorne     -        -        -        -  180 

St.  John's  Church,  Campbelltown  -  188 

Father  Conolly's  Grave,  Hobart      -  200 

St.  Joseph's  Church,  Hobart     -----  204 

Father  Therry's  House  in  Hobart   -        -        -        -  216 

Letter  from  Archbishop  Polding  to  Father  Therry  226 

Bishop  Willson           __.-_-_  230 

First  Sketch  for  St.  Mary's  Church,  Hobart          -  238 

Church  of  St.  Augustine  of  Canterbury,  Balmain  260 

The   Very   Reverend  Archpriest   Therry    (Father 

Therry  in  Old  Age)   ------  264 

Monument  to  Fathers  Therry  and  McEncroe        -  270 

Interior  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  192  i  -        -        -  284 

St.    Mary's    Cathedral    as    it    will    appear    when 

completed      --------  292 


CHAPTER    I 

The  passion  of  the  Earth, 

The  faint  victorious  music  of  her  birth, 

The  splendours  of  things  lost  and  things  grown  old. 

— James  Elroy  Flecker. 

In  the  preface  to  his  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia  Dom 
Birt,  O.S.B.,  recalls  those  early  periods  in  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory when  Saint  Augustine  set  out  at  the  bidding  of  Saint 
Gregory  the  Great  to  evangelize  the  island  of  Britain, 
when  Saint  Ansgar  brought  the  light  of  Christianity  to 
Scandinavia,  and  Saints  Boniface  and  Willibrod  gave  England 
a  definite  place  among  the  missionary  nations  of  the  world. 
"In  all  these  cases,"  he  writes,  "when  the  monks  had  done  their 
work  and  formed  a  Christian  nation  out  of  a  horde  of  pagans, 
the  secular  clergy  stepped  in.  .  .  .  Something  of  the  same 
procedure  may  be  observed  in  the  foundation  of  the  Church 
in  Australia.  .  .  .  The  achievement  was  no  ordinary  one ;  and 
with  one  exception — Dr.  Slater — the  men  who  accomplished 
it  were  monks  of  St.  Gregory's  Monastery,  Downside."1 

To  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  earliest  years  of  the 
Church  in  Australia,  and  who  have  inspected  the  mass  of  docu- 
ments relating  to  that  period,  the  statement  just  quoted  appears 
altogether  too  sweeping,  if  not  wholly  inaccurate.  We  do  not 
underestimate  the  enormous  work  done  in  Australia  by  Arch- 
bishop Polding  and  his  gallant  band  of  Benedictine  priests. 
But  when  Dr.  Ullathorne  arrived  in  1833  he  found  the  Church 
already  firmly  planted — a  "mustard-tree"  of  striking  vitality, 
that  needed  only  the  labours  of  more  workmen  to  make  it  bud 
forth  and  flourish.  The  priest  who  planted  the  tree  of  the 
Catholic  faith  in  Australia,  and  who  protected  and  cared  for 
it  almost  single-handed  for  ten  years,  was  a  secular  priest — 
John  Joseph  Therry. 

A  brief  sketch  of  the  colony  of  New  South  Wales  in  its 


1  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  pp.  xi.,  xii. 


2  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

beginnings,  and  of  the  mode  of  life  there,  will  enable  the 
reader  to  understand  the  conditions  under  which  Father 
Therry  worked.  The  settlement  was  intended  primarily  as  a 
dumping  ground  for  the  overflow  convict  population  of  Eng- 
land; and  with  this  end  in  view  Governor  Phillip  sailed  from 
England  on  the  13th  of  May,  1787,  bringing  with  him  a  human 
cargo  of  696  convicts  and  348  free  persons  to  the  land  so 
providentially  taken  possession  of  by  Captain  Cook,  some  few 
years  previously.  In  1788  Phillip  landed  at  Botany  Bay,  and 
the  infancy  of  Australia  began. 

Among  these  convicts  landed  on  a  strange  shore  there  were 
many  Catholics ;  but  no  provision  was  made  for  their  spiritual 
needs.  It  was  only  at  the  last  moment  that  even  a  Protestant 
chaplain  was  appointed  to  Phillip's  expedition,  and  he  con- 
tinued for  many  years  after  arrival  at  Sydney  to  be  the  only 
representative  of  religion  in  the  colony.  At  Phillip's  departure 
from  it  in  1792,  it  has  been  reckoned,  the  population  of  the 
convict  settlements  at  Sydney  and  at  Norfolk  Island  was 
4,414;  of  these  one-third  were  Catholics. 

It  was  not  merely  the  absence  of  their  priests  that  made 
the  lot  of  Catholics  hard,  but  the  fact  that  they  were  com- 
pelled to  attend  Protestant  religious  services,  against  which 
they  had  ever  held  conscientious  objections.  On  November  9, 
1 791,  Phillip  issued  the  following  regulation:  "Every  person 

will  regularly  attend  divine  worship The  Commissary  is 

directed  to  stop  2  lbs.  of  meat  from  every  overseer,  and  1^  lbs. 
from  every  convict,  male  or  female,  who  does  not  attend 
divine  worship."  Governor  Hunter,  his  successor,  had  similar 
ideas.  In  his  evidence  before  the  Select  Committee  of  the 
House  of  Commons  in  18 12,  he  stated  that  he  had  given  a 
general  order  that  he  expected  the  people  to  attend  divine 
service,  sent  constables  around  the  town  with  directions  that, 
if  they  found  anyone  idling  during  the  time  of  divine  service, 
they  were  to  put  them  in  gaol,  and  settled  the  point  next 
morning.  Governor  King  acted  in  like  manner  until  in  1803 
certain  instructions  came  from  England;  then  he  "judged  it 
expedient  ....  to  grant  unto  the  Revd.  Mr.  Dixon  a  con- 


FATHER    DIXON  3 

ditional  emancipation  to  enable  him  to  exercise  his  clerical 
functions  as  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  .  .  .  which  permission 
shall  remain  in  full  force  and  effect  as  long  as  he,  the  said 
Mr.  Dixon  (and  no  other  priest),  shall  strictly  adhere  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  which  he  has  this  day  bound  himself  by 
oath  to  observe."2  These  regulations  are  worth  quoting  in  so 
far  as  they  give  a  picture  of  the  times  and  of  Catholic  dis- 
abilities, which  otherwise  could  not  be  so  well  described: — 

Regulations  to  be  observed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon 
and  the  Catholic  congregations  of  this  colony 

1st.  They  will  observe,  with  all  becoming  gratitude,  that 
this  extension  of  liberal  toleration  proceeds  from  the  piety 
and  benevolence  of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign 

3rd.  As  Mr.  Dixon  will  be  allowed  to  perform  his  clerical 
functions  once  in  three  weeks  at  the  settlements  of  Sydney, 
Parramatta,  and  Hawkesbury,  in  rotation,  the  magistrates  are 
strictly  forbid  suffering  those  Catholics  who  reside  at  the  places 
where  service  is  not  performing  from  resorting  to  the  settle- 
ment and  district  at  which  the  priest  officiates  for  the  day. 

6th.  And  to  the  end  that  strict  decorum  may  be  observed, 
a  certain  number  of  the  police  will  be  stationed  at  and  about 
the  places  appointed  during  the  service. 

7th.  Every  person  throughout  the  colony  will  observe  that 
the  law  has  sufficiently  provided  for  the  punishment  of  those 
who  may  disquiet  or  disturb  any  assembly  of  religious  wor- 
ship whatever,  or  misuse  any  priest  or  teacher  of  any  tolerated 
sect. 

The  regulations  emphasized  the  fact  that  tolerated  sects 
should  be  grateful  for  small  mercies.  But  even  this  toleration 
was  of  short  duration.  Fathers  Dixon  and  Harold,  who  had 
been  deported  as  persons  implicated  in  the  Irish  rebellion, 
reached  Sydney  in  1800,  and  Father  O'Neil  in  1801 ;  but  their 
status  as  convicts  prevented  the  carrying  out  of  their  priestly 
functions.  Father  Dixon  celebrated  the  first  public  Mass  in 
Australia  on  the  15th  of  May,  1803,3  probably  in  the  house 
of  James  Meehan ;  but  his  work  was  officially  brought  to  a 
close  in  1804  by  an  order  withdrawing  the  privileges  previ- 

2  Historical  Records  of  N.S.W.,  v.,  97-8. 

3  So  Cardinal  Moran  :  Dom  Birt  gives  the  date  as  May  24. 


4  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

ously  granted — probably  because  he  was  suspected  of  con- 
nivance at  the  disturbances  of  that  year.  He  may,  however, 
have  continued  to  minister  privately  to  his  people  until  his 
departure  in  1808.  The  period  of  suffering  and  privation  then 
began  anew,  and  continued  until  the  arrival  of  Fathers  Conolly 
and  Therry  in  1820. 

During  those  twelve  years  the  plight  of  the  Catholic  con- 
victs and  people  was  deplorable.  A  hint  of  the  state  of  public 
opinion  on  the  relative  positions  of  the  Anglican  and  Catholic 
Churches  is  given  in  Judge  Burton's  book  dealing  with  this 
period : — "Wherever  the  British  flag  is  planted,  there,  by  that 
very  fact,  the  Protestant  church  becomes  the  national  and  es- 
tablished fact."4  In  many  Protestant  minds  this  mistaken  idea 
admitted  of  no  qualification;  and  there  is  no  reason,  in  most 
cases,  to  doubt  their  sincerity.  It  will  be  necessary,  then,  to 
enter  the  atmosphere  in  which  they  lived,  and  to  credit  them 
with  all  the  honesty  that  they  can  claim.  But  it  is  difficult  to 
justify,  even  according  to  their  ways  of  thinking,  the  unmiti- 
gated savagery  and  severity  with  which  they  punished  those 
who  claimed  conscientious  exemption  from  Church  of  Eng- 
land services.  James  Bonwick,  a  Protestant  writer  on  early 
Australian  history,  draws  a  startling  picture  of  Catholic  dis- 
abilities. "New  South  Wales  in  the  beginning,"  he  writes, 
"was  regarded  as  England  over  the  way,  and  absolutely 
attached  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  Catholics  could  ex- 
pect no  favour.  All  had  to  go  to  church ;  they  were  driven  as 
sheep  to  the  fold,  and  whatever  their  scruples,  they  had  to  go. 
Fallen  as  many  were,  they  were  not  to  be  supposed  aliens 
altogether  in  principles,  and  indifferent  to  faith.  In  some  the 
very  consciousness  of  crime  had  developed  an  eagerness  after 
faith,  and  that  the  faith  they  had  known,  the  faith  of  a  mother. 
If  a  man  humbly  entreated  to  stay  behind  because  he  was  a 
Presbyterian,  he  incurred  the  danger  of  a  flogging.  It  is  said 
that  upon  a  similar  appeal  from  another  who  exclaimed  T  am 
a  Catholic,'  he  was  silenced  by  the  cry  of  a  clerical  magistrate, 
'Go  to  church  or  be  flogged.'  "   Roger  Therry  paints  a  similar 

4  The  State   of  Religion  and  Education  in  NS.1V.,   1840. 


FATHER    O'FLYNN  5 

picture.  Writing  of  facts  that  were  familiar  to  him,  he  says 
"the  local  Government  of  New  South  Wales  promulgated  a 
regulation  that  the  whole  prison  population  indiscriminately 
should  attend  the  Church  of  England,  under  penalty  of  twenty- 
five  lashes  for  the  first  refusal,  fifty  for  the  second,  and  trans- 
portation to  a  penal  settlement  for  the  third  refusal."5 
Regulations  made  by  Macquarie,  enforcing  attendance  at 
church  on  all  convicts — and  even  on  ticket-of-leave  men — will 
be  found  in  vol.  vii  of  the  Historical  Records  of  New  South 
Wales. 

These  descriptions  bring  out  the  wonderful  depth  of  faith 
possessed  by  the  staunch  Irish  convicts  and  early  settlers — 
a  faith  that  could  not  be  extinguished  by  Government  regu- 
lations even  when  enforced  by  the  stroke  of  the  lash.  The 
children  of  Catholics  were  uninstructed  in  their  own  faith ;  they 
were  being  instructed  in  the  Church  of  England  catechism,  in 
the  Protestant  orphan  schools  of  the  colony.  This  condition  of 
affairs  continued  until  the  arrival  of  the  Very  Rev.  Jeremiah 
O'Flynn  in  1817,  when  for  a  few  brief  months  the  Catholic 
faith  was  taught  surreptitiously  by  a  priest  whose  admittance 
to  the  colony  was  unsanctioned. 

His  harsh  imprisonment,  when  Catholics  were  in  such  dire 
need  of  priestly  assistance,  has  brought  much  severe  criticism 
upon  the  head  of  Governor  Macquarie,  at  whose  command 
Father  O'Flynn  was  deported.  That  the  act  was  severe  we  do 
not  question;  that  the  deportation  was  entirely  illegal  was 
asserted  by  Roger  Therry;  but  that  Macquarie  was  prompted 
merely  by  petty  bigotry  we  do  not  believe. 

Lachlan  Macquarie — with  whose  administration  we  shall  be 
chiefly  concerned  during  the  early  years  of  Father  Therry's 
work  in  Australia — was  a  man  of  character,  one  of  the  greatest 
in  Australia's  history.  He  was  a  soldier;  and  he  ruled  his 
subjects  as  a  soldier  would  his  army.  He  had  been  appointed 
to  the  control  of  a  convict  settlement,  not  to  the  government 
of  a  colony.  From  1788  to  1823  New  South  Wales  was  a 
Crown  Colony  of  an  extreme  military  type,  and  the  Governor 

5  Therry's  Reminiscences  of  New  South  Wales  and  Victoria,  p.  145. 


6  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

had  absolute  power.  He  was  the  Legislature,  the  Executive, 
the  Administrator  and,  for  all  practical  purposes,  the  Judiciary. 
We  must,  if  we  care  to  read  the  character  of  Macquarie  cor- 
rectly, understand  the  use  to  which  Australia  was  being  put 
by  the  British  authorities.  The  prospect  that  this  convict  settle- 
ment might  grow  into  a  colony  of  freemen  caused  grave  anxiety 
to  the  Colonial  Office,  whose  servant  Macquarie  was.  Bigge 
was  appointed  Special  Commissioner,  as  the  Office  told  Mac- 
quarie, "with  a  view  of  ascertaining  how  far  in  its  present 
improved  and  increasing  state,  it"  (the  colony)  "is  susceptible 
of  being  made  adequate  to  the  objects  of  its  original  in- 
stitution,"6 and  Bigge's  own  letter  of  appointment  thus  stated 
the  leading  object  of  his  enquiry : — 

You  are  aware  of  the  causes  which  first  led  to  the  for- 
mation of  the  settlements  in  New  Holland.  As  they  were 
peculiar  in  themselves,  these  settlements  cannot  be  administered 
with  the  usual  reference  to  those  general  principles  of 
Colonial  Policy,  which  are  applicable  to  other  foreign  possess- 
ions of  His  Majesty.  Not  having  been  established  with  any 
view  to  territorial  or  commercial  advantages,  they  must  chiefly 
be  considered  as  receptacles  for  offenders,  in  which  crimes 
may  be  executed  (sic)  at  a  distance  from  home  by  punish- 
ments sufficiently  severe  to  deter  others  from  the  commission 

of  crimes So  long  as  they  continue   destined  by  the 

Legislature  of  the  country  to  these  purposes,  their  growth  as 
colonies  must  be  a  secondary  consideration,  and  the  leading 
duty  of  those,  to  whom  their  administration  is  entrusted,  will 
be  to  keep  up  in  them  such  a  system  of  just  discipline,  as 
may  render  transportation  an  object  of  serious  apprehension.7 

Macquarie's  duty  was  to  enforce  the  will  of  his  Govern- 
ment. He  himself  was  a  staunch  adherent  of  the  Protestant 
religion,  which  to  him  represented  the  only  possible  spiritual 
expression  of  British  administration.  In  a  British  convict 
colony  any  other  religion  was  almost  unthinkable,  for  Catholic 
Emancipation  had  not  yet  been  granted  in  the  mother-country 
— and,  whether  the  soil  he  trod  was  in  Europe  or  at  the 

c  Letter  of  Earl  Bathtirst  to  Macquarie,  30  Jan.,  1819. 
7  Instructions  to  Bigge,  6  January,  1819. 


THE    IRISH    "REBELS"  7 

Antipodes  it  was  for  him,  as  for  his  controllers  in  London,  all 
part  of  England.  In  most  matters  (the  rum  traffic  excepted) 
Macquarie  showed  an  unflinching  belief  in  and  insistence  on 
the  fulfilment  to  the  letter  of  laws  made  by  men  far  away, 
who  knew  very  little  about  the  conditions  for  which  they  were 
legislating.  In  any  case  the  Colonial  Office  required  the  terri- 
tory for  a  convict  settlement;  the  laws  it  made  must  there- 
fore be  severe  and  rigidly  enforced ;  and  the  fine  old  soldier 
Governor  was  above  all  things  an  honest  and  capable  servant. 

So  much  may  be  said  for  Macquarie.  The  same  cannot  be 
said  for  the  legislators  who  framed  the  laws  which  he  admin- 
istered; nor  can  any  species  of  condonation  be  given  to  a 
nefarious  system  that  denied  liberty  of  conscience  to  thousands 
of  helpless  human  beings.  It  may  be  pleaded,  for  instance,  that 
Father  O'Flynn  had  no  legal  right  in  the  Colony,  and  that  no 
course  lay  open  to  Macquarie  but  to  send  him  away.  That  is  a 
matter  of  doubt;  even  Judge  Therry  regarded  the  drastic 
action  as  illegal.  But  no  one  could  justify  the  indifference  of 
the  English  Government  to  the  religious  rights  of  these  unfor- 
tunate colonists,  or  its  failure  to  provide  chaplains  for  so 
many  thousands  of  people. 

It  will  be  of  advantage  to  sketch  more  minutely  the  char- 
acter of  these  men,  who,  with  thousands  of  comrades  following 
them  to  the  Colony  for  similar  offences,  constituted  the  bulk 
of  the  Catholic  population  at  that  time.  They  were  called  con- 
victs, and  placed  in  the  same  category  as  men  who  had  com- 
mitted the  lowest  crimes.  This  classification  was  unjust,  for 
the  greater  part  of  the  Catholic  prisoners  were  merely  political 
offenders  who  had  been  in  the  Irish  insurrections.  They  should 
not  have  been  branded  as  felons;  the  rebellion  in  which  they 
had  taken  part  was  in  their  eyes  wholly  justified.  The  Irish 
rebellion  of  1798  had  been  fostered  by  the  Government  of  the 
day  with  the  express  object  of  preparing  the  way  for  the 
passing  of  the  Act  of  Union,  by  which  Ireland  lost  her  con- 
stitution and  her  control  over  legislation.  Goaded  to  madness 
by  the  brutal  excesses  of  an  army  of  occupation,  the  peasants 
in  various  parts  of  the  country  rose  in  self-defence.    Though 


8  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

they  fought  with  courage,  the  issue  went  against  them ;  courts- 
martial  took  over  control,  and  horrified  the  country  by  their 
ruthless  cruelties;  there  were  plunderings  and  burnings  and 
transportations.  No  means  of  conviction  were  neglected,  and 
even  acts  of  humanity  were  sometimes  regarded  as  proofs  of 
guilt.  The  passing  of  the  Act  of  Union  in  1800  ended  the 
struggle,  but  left  in  the  hearts  of  the  Irish  people  hatred  and 
a  longing  for  revenge.  They  would  not  bow  before  the  con- 
queror; wherefore,  as  often  as  they  opened  their  mouth  or 
raised  their  hands  in  protest,  they  were  arrested,  summarily 
convicted,  and  shipped  off  to  New  Holland.  Between  1795  and 
1820  the  convicts  deported  from  Ireland  to  New  South  Wales 
numbered  6,440;  802  came  in  1819;  and  in  1820  a  further 
batch  of  845  landed.  From  1795  to  1841,  when  transportation 
to  the  colony  ceased,  24,799  Irish  convicts  had  been  deported.s 
Although  not  all  these  were  Catholics,  Irishmen  formed  the 
bulk  of  the  colony's  Catholic  population.  There  were,  besides, 
many  Catholics  of  other  nationalities,  both  convict  and  free, 
without  a  pastor  to  guide  them ;  and  the  rights  of  all  to  religious 
liberty  were  either  assailed  or  scornfully  overlooked  by  the 
British  Government. 

The  Catholics  of  the  colony  had  often  protested  against 
this  denial  of  justice,  but  their  protests  went  unheeded. 
Throughout  the  whole  British  Empire,  in  the  early  days  of  the 
last  century,  the  condition  of  Catholics  was  desolate  in  the 
extreme.  They  were  living  under  the  lingering  shadows  of  the 
Penal  Laws,  and  were  excluded  from  the  higher  offices  of 
trust  and  influence  in  the  State.  In  the  British  Isles  the  Church 
was  practically  in  the  grave.  The  small  remnant  of  the  faithful 
there  were  scattered,  dispirited,  despised,  almost  unknown — or, 
if  known,  regarded  merely  as  the  dazzled,  scared  creatures 
of  a  night  long  since  blotted  out  by  the  bright  and  glorious 
day  of  Protestantism.  True,  there  were  champions  who  sought 
to  win  emancipation  for  Catholics:  but  the  fight  was  long, 
bitter  and,  for  a  long  time,  apparently  hopeless.   A  few  of  the 

8 History   of  Australia   from   the  Records,  1.,  463.     (Statistics  pre- 
pared by  T.  A.  Coghlan.) 


PETITIONS    FROM    CATHOLICS  9 

upper  classes  of  the  English  laity,  weary  of  the  system  of 
exclusion  under  which  they  lived,  thought  that  the  restoration 
of  civil  and  religious  rights  would  be  purchased  cheaply  at 
the  price  of  conceding  to  the  British  Crown  a  veto  in  episcopal 
nominations — that  is,  giving  to  a  bitterly  hostile  and  Protestant 
Government  the  practical  selection  of  the  chief  officers  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  The  same  atmosphere  was  reproduced  in  the 
new  Australian  settlement.  Protestant  greatness  and  power, 
Catholic  insignificance,  were  here  manifested  on  a  greatly 
exaggerated  scale,  by  reason  of  the  military  rule  necessary 
in  a  prison  colony.  From  the  days  of  Phillip  attendance  at 
religious  services  had  been  made  compulsory  on  all — but 
the  religion  was  Protestantism.  That  Catholicism  should 
be  recognized,  even  for  the  many  thousands  of  convicts  and 
settlers  who  adhered  to  it,  was  an  idea  not  worthy  of  con- 
sideration. 

This  digression  will  provide  the  background  upon  which 
may  be  depicted  the  events  that  led  to  the  arrival  of  Father 
Therry  in  New  South  Wales.  Father  O'Flynn,  whom  Mac- 
quarie  had  deported  so  peremptorily,  had  returned  to  Eng- 
land, and  had  there  given  publicity  to  the  condition  of  the  ten 
thousand  Catholics  in  Australia  and  Van  Diemen's  Land.  At 
the  same  time  these  Catholics  had  moved  on  their  own  account, 
and  two  strong  petitions  were  sent  to  England — one  from  the 
Catholic  laity  in  general,  the  other  from  the  military — protest- 
ing strongly  against  their  treatment  in  the  matter  of  religion. 
Through  the  influence  of  Dr.  England  of  Charleston,  and  of 
Lord  Donoughmore,  the  question  was  debated  in  the  House 
of  Commons.  So  Father  O'Flynn's  mission  had  not  been  a 
failure.  His  short  stay  had  brought  many  consolations  to  the 
Catholics  of  New  South  Wales;  his  deportation  resulted  in 
Government  sanction  for  the  exercise  of  the  Catholic  Faith, 
and  inspired  worthy  missionaries  to  preach  the  gospel. 

The  dawn  of  Catholicism  in  Australia  was  at  hand.  It  is 
easy  to  determine  now,  as  we  look  back  over  its  history  of 
triumphs  and  successes,  how  far  success  or  failure  for  the 
Church  in  Australia  depended  upon  the  choice  of  its   first 


10  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

apostle.  In  1819  it  was  not  so  easy  to  speculate  concerning 
the  future.  A  historian  of  the  Australian  Church,  writing  in 
1854,  when  memories  of  the  early  days  were  still  fresh  in  the 
public  mind,  calls  attention  to  the  suitability  of  the  first 
accredited  missionary  to  the  surroundings  in  which  he  was 
placed.  "In  the  Revd.  John  Joseph  Therry  the  gravity  which 
is  produced  by  a  becoming  sense  of  responsibility  was  happily 
and  admirably  blended  with  the  ease,  the  sweetness  and  the 
affability  of  manner  which  flow  from  natural  excellence  of 
disposition  and  the  practice  of  virtue.  It  is  a  mistake  to 
imagine  that  rude  and  ignorant  men  are  incapable  of  appre- 
ciating, and  remain  uninfluenced  by,  universal  affection  of 
manner/'9  It  was  precisely  because  the  pioneer  missionary  of 
Australia  possessed  those  qualities,  which  appeared  at  first 
sight  unsuited  to  the  community  to  which  he  came,  that  he  has 
left  the  remembrance  of  a  name  as  imperishable  as  the  Church 
he  served. 

Had  Father  Therry  been  a  negligent  priest,  he  could  not 
have  commanded  the  respect  and  love  of  a  community  that 
was  in  great  part  convict.  Had  he  been  cowardly  and  of  weak 
principles,  he  would  have  succumbed  to  Macquarie's  (or  at 
any  rate  to  Darling's)  regulations  and  enactments.  He  was 
wise.  He  disobeyed  enactments  that  were  impossible  for  a 
priest  to  fulfil;  he  enforced  his  will  in  lawful  matters  by  his 
strength  of  character  and  his  indomitable  energy.  Had  he  not 
been  a  holy  priest,  the  work  that  was  fashioned  by  his  hands 
would  not,  perhaps,  have  been  so  blessed  by  Divine  assistance. 
Had  his  work  not  been  solid  and  thorough,  it  would  have  col- 
lapsed even  in  his  own  lifetime.   It  prospers  to-day. 


8  Catholic  Almanac,  1854. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Lord,  and  what  shall  this  man  do?  .   .    .    St.  John  xxi.  21. 

That  the  ecclesiastical  authorities  in  Rome  were  not  ignorant 
of  the  conditions  existing  in  Australia  is  evidenced  by  the 
faculties  granted  to  Father  O'Flynn.  It  was  not  long  before 
the  mission  of  New  Holland  was  placed  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  a  definitely  appointed  Bishop.  For  our  information  on 
this  subject  we  are  indebted  to  Dom  Birt,  who  gives  much 
space  to  the  episcopal  appointment,1  and  whose  account  may 
be  summarized  as  follows : — 

Of  the  many  seminaries  and  monastic  schools  which  had 
been  suppressed  in  England  at  the  Reformation  a  few  were 
temporarily  re-established  in  France;  these,  after  the  Revo- 
lution of  1789,  were  confiscated  by  the  Republican  Govern- 
ment. The  Benedictine  house  at  Lambspring  in  Westphalia 
was  of  course  exempt  from  this  seizure;  but  in  1800  the  Prus- 
sian Government  imitated  its  republican  neighbours  and  drove 
out  the  monks.  After  the  Treaty  of  Amiens  it  was  hoped  that 
restitution  would  be  made,  and  to  facilitate  matters  Dom 
Edward  Bede  Slater,  O.S.B.,  was  sent  to  Germany.  His  work 
there  was  of  such  value  that  he  came  under  the  notice  of  the 
Roman  Curia,  and  was  appointed  Vicar-Apostolic  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  with  the  title  of  Bishop  of  Ruspa  in  partibus 
Infidelium. 

By  the  Brief  of  appointment  Dr.  Slater  was  given  juris- 
diction over  "the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Madagascar,  Mauritius, 
and  New  Holland  with  the  adjacent  islands,"  the  last  mentioned 
territory  comprising  the  whole  of  Australia,  Van  Diemen's 
Land,  New  Zealand,  and  the  islands  of  the  Pacific.  The  terri- 
tory put  under  his  charge  was,  it  will  be  seen,  of  huge  area, 
and  its  successful  administration  was  a  task  for  another 
Francis  Xavier.  He  was  not,  however,  unmindful  of  the  convict 
colony  on  the  farthest  borders  of  his  diocese.    In  a  letter  of 

1  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.,  7-14. 


12  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

18  April,  1819,  Dr.  Brewer  informed  Father  Lorymer  (who 
had  volunteered  to  accompany  the  Bishop  to  Mauritius)  that 
"Dr.  Slater  is  gone  to  Ireland  in  quest  of  missionaries  for 
Botany  Bay."  His  quest  was  not  in  vain.  Fathers  Conolly 
and  Therry  offered  their  services,  and  eventually  set  out  for 
New  Holland  with  the  approval  of  the  British  Government. 

The  Rev.  Philip  Conolly  was  a  native  of  the  diocese  of 
Kildare.  He  was  senior  to  Father  Therry,  and  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  Australian  mission.  We  shall  see  him  only  for  a 
short  time  in  New  Holland,  and  finally  in  Tasmania,  where 
Father  Therry  was  sent  to  resurrect  the  church  which  he  had 
allowed  to  fall  into  decay. 

John  Joseph  Therry  was  the  second  missionary  to  volunteer 
for  the  Australian  mission.  Facts  concerning  his  early  life  are 
difficult  to  obtain.  What  knowledge  we  have  we  must  take  in 
great  part  from  Dr.  Comerford's  Recollections  of  the  Diocese 
of  Kildare  and  Leighlin.2  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cork 
in  1790.  His  parents  appear  to  have  been,  during  his  early  life, 
in  a  comfortable  position — so  comfortable  that  a  private  tutor 
was  engaged  for  the  family.  But  from  letters  written  to  him 
in  Australia  they  appear  in  later  years  to  have  encountered 
less  fortunate  circumstances,  for  out  of  his  scanty  means  he 
sometimes  sent  them  money  to  tide  them  over  urgent  financial 
difficulties.  His  sister  Jane  Ann,  who  later  came  to  Hobart 
and  lived  there  till  her  death,  was  affectionately  attached  to 
him.  A  brother,  James  Therry,  was  in  a  position  in  London. 
His  parents,  as  we  know  from  the  letters  of  Jane  Ann,  were 
a  pious  couple,  whose  only  knowledge  of  Australia  was  that 
it  held  their  son  John.  His  father  died  in  1827,  and  his  mother 
in  1833. 

In  1 8 12  his  name  appears  on  the  list  of  students  of  the 
ecclesiastical  college  of  St.  Patrick  in  Carlow,  where,  very 
probably — since  we  have  no  records  to  authorize  an  opposite 
opinion — he  completed  his  college  course  in  much  the  same 
fashion  as  any  other  student.  His  work  in  Australia  does  not 
show  evidence  of  brilliant  scholarship;  he  proved  a  practical 

"VoL  i.,  p.  179. 


FATHER    THERRY    IN    IRELAND  13 

man,  very  shrewd  and  diplomatic  in  his  dealings  with  Govern- 
ment, very  humble  and  zealous  with  his  people,  and  holy  before 
his  God.  His  professor  of  Theology  was  Dr.  Doyle,  after- 
wards the  illustrious  Bishop  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin — more 
familiarly  known  as  "J.K.L."  One  incident  is  narrated  of  his 
college  course  of  studies.  The  "Recollections"  tell  how  even 
in  these  early  years  foreign  missions  had  an  attraction  for  him. 
As  St.  Patrick  heard  the  call  of  his  children  in  Ireland,  and 
the  Maid  of  Orleans  was  aware  of  heavenly  voices  in  the 
woods,  so  the  apostle  of  Australia  seems  to  have  had  pre- 
monitions of  his  destiny  in  life.  He  gathered  around  him  some 
students  of  like  sympathies,  and  together  they  resolved  to 
offer  themselves  for  the  foreign  missionary  field,  should  the 
need  arise,  and  their  Bishops  give  consent. 

Before  completing  his  course  of  studies,  probably  in  his  last 
year  of  theology,  he  was  in  1815  called  to  the  priesthood  and 
ordained  by  Archbishop  Troy  of  Dublin.  For  a  time  he  did 
parish  work  in  Dublin,  and  was  later  made  secretary  to  the 
Right  Rev.  Dr.  Murphy,  Bishop  of  Cork.  "But  in  the  midst 
of  this  happy  and  useful  life  in  his  native  city,  his  mind  still 
retained  its  early  bent;  he  awaited  only  the  call  to  a  more 
extended  and  arduous  field  of  missionary  labour.  A  circum- 
stance occurred  at  this  time  that  directed  his  attention  to  Aus- 
tralia. Walking  one  day  in  the  streets  of  Cork,  a  waggon 
passed  him  containing  a  number  of  his  countrymen,  hand- 
cuffed, and  guarded  by  a  military  escort.  On  inquiry,  he  found 
that  they  were  convicts  being  conveyed  to  the  hulk  about  to 
sail  for  Botany  Bay.  He  at  once  went  into  an  adjoining  book- 
seller's shop,  bought  some  twenty  or  thirty  prayer-books,  threw 
them  amongst  the  convicts,  and,  then  and  there,  resolved  to 
follow  them  to  the  other  side  of  the  earth  to  save  their  im- 
mortal souls  from  destruction.  About  this  time,  too,  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Father  O'Flynn,  who  had  been,  just  be- 
fore, forcibly  expelled  from  Australia."3 

It  is  not  difficult  to  picture  with  how  great  a  confidence 
the  exiled  Father  O'Flynn  approached  the  youthful  priest  of 

*  Dr.  Comerford's  Recollections. 


14  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Cork.  Father  Therry  was  not  long  in  declaring  his  willingness 
to  volunteer.  His  Bishop,  too,  was  willing;  but  family  diffi- 
culties stood  in  the  way.  The  likelihood  that  Father  Therry 
would  volunteer  as  a  missionary  was  brought  to  the  ears  of 
Bishop  Slater.  He  had  been  told  of  his  charitable  intentions, 
believed  the  volunteer  was  fitted  for  the  work,  and  in  these 
terms  offered  to  accept  him : — 

Dear  Sir, 

As  I  have  not  the  honour  of  being  personally 
known  to  you  I  have  to  apologise  for  addressing  you,  but  the 
importance  of  the  subject  will  be  my  excuse.  If  you  have 
looked  to  the  bottom  of  the  page,  you  will  be  aware  that  you 
are  addressed  by  one  who  has  a  deep  interest  in  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  many  of  your  countrymen  expatriated  to  New 
South  Wales.  I  have  been  told  that  your  charity  leads  you 
to  wish  to  be  enabled  to  render  them  assistance.  I  have  heard, 
too,  that  you  are  well  qualified,  by  your  zeal  and  virtues,  to 
be  a  useful  labourer  in  such  a  mission.  If  my  first  information 
has  not  been  incorrect,  I  shall  feel  most  happy  in  being  allowed 
to  employ  your  talents  in  so  meritorious  a  cause.  Do  me  the 
favour  to  write  to  me,  and  believe  me,  Revd.  Sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
Liverpool,  Kent  Street,  *  Edward  Slater. 

July  1 2th,  1 819. 
Father  Therry's  reply  is  so  characteristic  of  the  man  that 
we  give  it  verbatim.    It  alleged,  and  exaggerated,  various  dis- 
qualifications;  but  from  it  Bishop  Slater  knew  and  chose  his 
man. 

My  Lord, 

As  I  did  not  receive  your  letter  until  Satur- 
day, and  had  not  an  opportunity  of  an  interview  with  Dr. 
Murphy  until  11  o'clock  on  the  night  of  that  day,  and  as  my 
duties  of  yesterday  (Sunday)  were  more  than  usually  heavy 
in  consequence  of  the  illness  of  a  brother  priest,  I  did  not 
have  it  in  my  power  to  sit  down  to  write  before  this  moment. 
Though,  my  Lord,  I  hope  that  I  duly  appreciate  the  high  honour 
conferred  on  me  by  your  very  polite  letter,  yet  I  must  acknow- 
ledge that  I  was  not  prepared  for  its  reception,  as  I  never 
made  application  for  the  appointment  which  it  offers,  through 
the  conviction  that  I  was  very  badly  qualified  for  it,  being  in- 


SELF-DELINEATION  15 

volved  in  rather  peculiar  circumstances,  which  I  conceive  I 
owe  in  candour  to  you,  my  Lord,  to  explain.  Indeed,  I  have 
frequently  said,  since  the  return  of  the  Revd.  Mr.  O'Flynn 
from  New  South  Wales,  and,  I  believe,  before  he  went  there, 
that,  if  no  other  clergyman  offered,  I  would  be  inclined  to 
volunteer  my  services  on  that  mission,  on  the  principle  that 
it  were  better  for  its  inhabitants  to  have  a  clergyman,  though 
not  well  fitted  for  the  situation,  than  none. 

The  course  of  my  college  studies  was  interrupted,  at  an 
early  stage,  by  family  embarrassments,  the  knowledge  of 
which  influenced  my  superior  to  allow  me  to  be  prematurely 
ordained;  but,  in  justice  to  him,  I  must  say  that  it  was  not 
without  strong  recommendation  to  him,  which  I  had  elicited 
from  the  too  great  partiality  of  my  professor.  The  continu- 
ance of  these,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  to  this  moment,  a 
great  deal  of  natural  and  criminal  indolence,  and  the  duties 
of  the  mission  in  which  I  have  been  employed,  have  prevented 
my  making  since,  any  considerable  improvement.  And  I  am, 
I  confess,  if  not  absolutely  ignorant  of,  at  least,  very  deficient 
in  the  knowledge  which  any  ordinary  missioner  ought  to  pos- 
sess. Besides,  I  am  utterly  destitute  of  any  acquaintance  with 
the  Irish  language. 

If,  my  Lord,  a  person  with  these  disqualifications,  which 
are  not  exaggerated,  but  possessing,  it  is  hoped,  a  zeal  for  the 
glory  of  God,  and  a  solicitude  for  the  salvation  of  his  fellow 
men,  would,  in  your  opinion,  be  likely  to  promote  these  objects 
by  accepting  such  a  mission,  and,  that  you  can,  without  de- 
ranging in  any  degree  the  plans  you  have  adopted  with  re- 
gard to  it,  allow  me  sufficient  time,  as  by  great  exertion  on 
my  part,  will  enable  me  to  establish  persons  in  a  competency, 
which  it  has  hitherto  been  my  duty  to  afford,  who  would  other- 
wise have  no  alternative,  and  who  have  on  me  the  strongest 
possible  claims,  I  shall  cheerfully  place  myself  under  your 
Lordship's  jurisdiction. 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

This  wordy  vindication — or  condemnation — of  himself, 
when  viewed  in  the  light  of  his  future  life,  seems  exaggerated. 
It  would  have  been  a  sorry  day  for  the  Catholic  Church  in 
Australia  had  Father  Therry  not  possessed  in  his  old  professor, 
Dr.  Doyle,  a  staunch  friend.  He  was  eminently  suited  for  the 
Australian  mission ;  and  Bishop  Slater  soon  settled  any  doubts 


16  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

he  may  have  had  on  that  subject.    The  Bishop  replied: — 

Revd.  Sir, 

I  had  left  Liverpool  before  your  letter  arrived, 
and  it  has  been  forwarded  to  me  here.  You  will  allow  me  to 
say  that  the  difficulties  you  state  all  tend  to  increase  the  good 
opinion  I  had  formed  of  you,  and  I  shall  deem  myself  fortunate 
in  obtaining  for  our  unfortunate  fellow-Christians  in  New 
South  Wales  the  service  of  a  person  whose  filial  attentions  and 
missionary  zeal  have  secured  him  the  good  opinion  of  all  his 
acquaintances.  I  accept  you,  my  dear  Sir,  with  pleasure.  Let 
me  know  in  how  short  a  time  you  think  you  will  be  ready  to 
go  out,  and  depend  upon  my  doing  all  I  can  to  render  the 
remainder  of  your  life  comfortable. 
Believe  me,  Revd.  Sir, 

Your  obdt.  servant, 
►p  Edward  Slater. 

The  die  was  cast.  Father  Therry  had  severed  his  con- 
nections with  the  land  of  his  birth ;  henceforward,  without  any 
interruption,  Australia  would  claim  his  interests  and  affections. 
Bishop  Slater's  promise  to  make  his  life  comfortable  is  in- 
teresting as  significant  of  his  goodwill ;  but  the  occasions  on 
which  the  goodwill  was  practically  manifested  were  few  and 
far  between.  Dr.  Slater  seldom  communicated  with  his  priest 
in  Australia.  Indeed,  except  for  a  few  letters  (one  of  which 
advises  Father  Therry  that  he  is  "still  to  remain  master  in  the 
house  you  have  built," )  it  might  be  presumed  that  the  Bishop 
had  forgotten  his  distant  flock.  This  apparent  lack  of  interest 
can  be  understood,  however,  when  the  troubled  state  of 
Mauritius  and  Dr.  Slater's  financial  worries  are  taken  into 
account. 

Up  to  this  time  Father  Therry  appears  to  have  had  only 
the  verbal  sanction  of  his  Bishop.  Dr.  Murphy,  the  Bishop  of 
Cork,  now  gave  the  official  Exeat,  "having  duly  weighed  the 
motives  which  induce  him  to  proceed  to  New  South  Wales 
....  and  permits  him  to  undertake  the  laborious  mission." 
Nor  was  this  his  final  letter  to  the  departing  priest ;  the  Therry 
papers  include  much  affectionate  correspondence  between  them. 
Moreover,  Father  Therry's  immediate  appeal  to  the  Irish 
people  for  funds,  chalices,  vestments,  missals,  altar  linen,  &c, 


APPOINTED   TO    NEW    SOUTH   WALES  17 

and  books  of  devotion  and  catechisms,  received  his  Bishop's 
sanction,  as  well  as  a  donation  of  ten  pounds  to  help  it  on. 

Dr.  Slater  had  made  final  arrangements  with  the  Colonial 
Office.  He  remembered  the  bitter  experience  of  Father 
O'Flynn,  and  took  precautions  against  a  repetition  of  it. 
Father  Therry  and  his  fellow-volunteer,  Father  Conolly,  must 
be  accredited  officials  of  the  Crown,  as  well  as  of  the  Church. 
The  following  letter  manifests  the  newly  found  interest  of  the 
Government  in  this  matter,  which  for  thirty  years  had  been 
overlooked  as  impossible  or  unimportant.  Earl  Bathurst  thus 
advised  Macquarie  of  the  appointments : 

Downing  Street,  20th  October,  1819. 
Sir, 

I  have  the  honor  to  acquaint  you  that  His  Royal  Highness 
the  Prince  Regent  has  been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  two  Roman  Catholic  clergymen,  the  Reverend  Philip 
Conolly  and  the  Reverend  Joseph  Therry,  to  proceed  to  New 
South  Wales,  and  I  am  directed  by  His  Royal  Highness  to 
authorize  you  to  issue  to  them,  in  consideration  of  their 
attendance  on  the  prisoners  of  the  Roman  Catholic  persuasion, 
an  allowance  from  the  Colonial  Funds  at  the  rate  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  per  annum  each,  so  long  as  they  shall  continue 
to  conduct  themselves  with  propriety,  the  same  to  commence 
from  the  date  of  their  arrival  in  the  colony. 

I  have,  &c, 

Bathurst.4 

Dom  Birt  quotes  from  a  review  of  Dr.  Ullathorne's  Reply 
to  Judge  Burton  the  motive  that  prompted  Earl  Bathurst  to 
allow  so  small  a  salary.  The  Colonial  Secretary,  it  appears, 
assigned  as  his  reason  for  the  meagreness  of  the  stipend  that 
"it  was  chiefly  intended  for  a  proof  of  their  possessing  the 
sanction  of  Government;  that  he  knew  they  did  not  require 
more,  because  the  Catholic  people  were  more  generous  than 
others  in  supporting  their  clergy."5  Compared  with  the  liberal 
treatment  of  the  many  Anglican  chaplains  in  New  South 
Wales,  this  action  was  unworthy  of  the  institution  whose  agent 
Bathurst  was. 

To  establish  more  securely  the  positions  of  the  two  mis- 


*  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  x.,  204. 
8  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.,  19. 


18  LIFE    OF  ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

sionaries,  they  were  given  testimonials  to  the  following  effect : 
Downing  Street,  20th  August,  18 19. 

Sir. 

I  am  directed  by  Earl  Bathurst  to  acquaint  you  that 
he  has  given  permission  to  the  bearer,  the  Reverend  Joseph 
Therry,  to  proceed  to  New  South  Wales,  he  being  one  of  the 
two  Roman  Catholic  clergymen,  who  have  been  selected  as 
proper  persons  to  be  allowed  to  exercise  the  functions  of  their 
office  in  the  colony,  so  long  as  their  good  conduct  shall  entitle 
them  to  that  consideration.     I  am,  &c, 

Henry  Goulburn.0 

Dr.  Slater  had  succeeded  so  well  with  Government  that  it 
only  remained  now  for  him  to  determine  the  powers  he  would 
delegate  to  his  representatives  in  New  South  Wales.  Among 
the  Therry  Papers  is  the  original  faculty  paper  delivered  by  Dr. 
Slater  to  Father  Therry,7  in  which  power  is  given  to  exercise 
his  ministry  in  every  case  contemplated  by  a  modern  pagclla, 
excepting  a  useful  privilege  relative  to  the  obligation  of  the 
Divine  Office.  When  it  was  inconvenient  to  carry  his  breviary 
he  could  satisfy  his  obligation  by  reciting  "the  Rosary  or  other 
prayers.''  Probably  this  was  often  availed  of ;  Mass  at  Parra- 
matta  followed,  on  returning,  by  a  sick  call  to  Wollongong 
would  not  leave  much  of  the  twenty-four  hours  for  the  reading 
of  the  Breviary.   The  faculties  bear  the  superscription: 

Has  autem  facultates  per  totam  Novam  Hollandiam,  et 
insulam,  vulgo  dictam.  Van  Diemen's  Land,  tibi  usque  ad 
revocationem  exercendas  committo.  Perge  igitur  Frater 
Charissime  alacriter  ad  excolendum  agrum  curae,  et  sollici- 
tudini  tuae  commissum,  dirigatque  Dominus  gressus  tuos  ad 
augendam  illius  gloriam. 

►J<Eduardus  Ruspensis. 
Datum  Londini. 

20  Septembris    18 19. 
Revdo.  Dno.  Josepho  Therry.8 

e  Cf.  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  x.,  200. 

1  Father  Conolly,  as  the  senior  priest,  may  have  possessed  more 
ample  faculties  than  were  given  to  his  fellow  missionary. 

8  Translation — "I  grant  these  faculties  to  you  to  be  exercised,  until 
their  revocation,  throughout  the  whole  of  New  Holland  and  the  island 
usually  called  Van  Diemen's  Land.  Go  forth  then,  beloved  brother, 
speedily  to  cultivate  the  field  entrusted  to  your  care  and  solicitude, 
and  may  the  Lord  guide  your  steps  for  the  increase  of  His  glory. — 
Edward,  Bishop  of  Ruspa." 


BISHOP    SLATER'S   ADVICE  19 

Dom  Birt  has  given  from  the  Downside  Archives  the  text 
of  the  letter  accompanying  the  faculties : — 

Carissime  Frater, — Licet  non  mihi  notus  facie,  tuae  tamen 
indolis  pictura  quam  ab  Episcopo  tuo  accepi  necnon  ea  omnia 
quae  de  te  laudabiliter  a  multis  loqui  audivi  me  impellunt  ut 
in  ingenii  tui  viribus,  inque  tuo  flagranti  zelo  non  parum 
fiduciae  collocem.  Absque  ullo  eapropter  metu  earn  te  in 
missionem  mitto  in  qua  magna  quidem  prudentia  opus  erit, 
ac  potius  Christianae  dulcedinis  exemplis  quam  per  asperiores 
cohortationes  in  iram  devios  revocare  opus  erit,  at  in  qua 
etiam  ministrorum  solamen  ex  ipsa  ut  ita  dicam  augmentatione 
laborum  proveniet.  Non  itaque  despondeas  animo,  supremi 
namque  numinis  gratia  tibi  certe  auxilio  erit,  statim  enim  ac 
verbi  semina  quae  seminaveris  in  messem  creverint  illico  alios 
cooperatores  ad  vos  mittam  ut  praeteritorum  laborum  fructus 
congregare  in  horrea  possitis.  In  tuo  consocio  Conollio  eum 
hominem  baud  dubie  invenies  qui  et  zelo,  et  experientia,  et 
doctrina  praeditus  paratus  semper  erit  dare  tibi  consilia  quibus 
forte  pro  circumstantiarum  difficultate  indigere  queas.    Tam- 

quam  amicum  eum  considera,   atque  exhibito   illas 

(  Pbonae)  honoris  significationes  quae  seniori  fratri  debentur. 
Tibi  interim  benedictionem  impertior,  necnon  pro  Nova  Hol- 
landia  sequentes  facultates  communico.9 

The  Bishop's  instructions  were  very  much  to  the  point.  He 
had  anticipated  too  much,  however,  in  counting  upon  the  help 

"Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  i.,  19.    Translation: — 
Very  dear  Brother, 

Although  I  do  not  know  you  personally,  yet  the  description  of  your 
natural  abilities  given  me  by  your  Bishop  and  all  the  praise  of  you  that 
I  have  heard  from  many  others  urge  me  to  place  considerable  con- 
fidence in  your  strength  of  character  and  burning  zeal.  And  so  I  send 
you  without  any  misgivings  on  a  mission  in  which  you  will  need  great 
prudence,  and  will  have  to  win  back  the  stray  sheep  rather  by  the 
example  of  Christian  sweetness  than  by  harsh  and  angry  exhortations, 
but  which  will  provide  solace  for  the  ministers,  I  may  almost  say, 
from  the  very  increase  of  their  toils.  Do  not,  therefore,  be  disheartened, 
for  God's  grace  will  be  your  aid ;  and,  as  soon  as  the  seed  of  the  word 
which  you  have  sown  has  grown  towards  harvest,  I  will  send  you 
other  fellow-workers,  so  that  you  may  be  able  to  gather  into  granaries 
the  fruits  of  your  past  labours.  In  your  colleague  Conolly  you  will 
certainly  find  a  man  able  by  virtue  of  his  zeal,  experience  and  learning 
to  give  you  at  any  time  the  advice  which,  in  your  difficult  circum- 
stances, you  will  probably  need.  Look  on  him  as  a  friend,  and  show 
him  such  marks  of  respect  as  are  due  to  an  elder  brother.  Meanwhile 
I  give  you  my  blessing,  and  confer  on  you  for  use  in  New  Holland  the 
following  faculties.  .  .  . 


20  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

and  advice  that  Father  Therry  would  receive  from  Father 
Conolly.  Probably  Father  Therry  was  to  blame,  in  that  he 
did  not  "treat  him  with  the  respect  due  to  a  senior/'  The 
Bishop  spoke  truly  when  he  warned  the  energetic  priest  of  the 
difficulties  of  his  mission,  and  foresaw  that  he  would  find 
solace  only  in  an  increase  of  missionary  labours. 

The  ship  Janus  was  directed  to  call  into  Cork  harbour  to 
pick  up  the  two  missionaries.  On  the  5th  of  December,  1819, 
they  had  their  first  experience  of  that  convict  system  with 
which  their  lives  were  in  future  to  be  identified.  The  Janus 
was  a  typical  convict  transport,  crowded  with  men  and  women ; 
some  convicts  of  the  basest  order,  some  merely  first  offenders. 
Into  this  vortex,  seething  with  immorality — not  only  among 
the  convicts,  but  among  the  officers  whose  duty  it  was  to 
enforce  discipline — into  this  mass  of  struggling  humanity  the 
missionaries  were  cast.  Straightway,  as  they  sailed  from  Cork, 
their  labours  commenced.  The  voyage  must  have  made  an 
unpleasant  impression  upon  them.  Crime  at  all  times  is  a 
terrible  thing.  When  it  is  winked  at  by  authority,  and  prac- 
tically legalized  by  the  like  actions  of  superiors,  the  possibility 
of  reformation  appears  very  remote,  even  to  the  most  hopeful. 
Did  such  a  hope  of  reformation  dawn  in  the  mind  of  Father 
Therry?  Was  it  stifled  even  at  its  commencement  by  the 
conditions  of  life  and  morality  on  board  the  Janus? 

The  case  of  the  Janus,  one  of  a  fleet  of  convict  vessels, 
differs  from  others  only  in  its  having  been  made  the  subject 
of  a  judicial  examination.  In  a  despatch  from  Macquarie  to 
Bathurst  under  date  of  July  19,  1820,  is  given  the  result  of  an 
investigation  by  the  Judge  Advocate  and  the  other  magistrates 
into  accusations  made  against  the  captain,  officers  and  crew 
of  the  Janus.10  The  report  states  that  "the  facts  alleged  against 
Mr.  Mowatt  and  one  of  his  officers  have  been  most  fully  and 
clearly  proved  ....  that  prostitution  did  prevail  in  a  great 
degree  on  board  the  ship  Janus,  throughout  the  voyage  from 
England ;  that  due  exertions  were  not  made  on  the  part  of  the 
captain  and  officers  to  repress  and  prevent  the  same ;  and  that 
19  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  x.,  pp.  318-332. 


THE   JANUS  21 

the  matter  of  charge,  as  against  the  captain  and  officers  of  the 
said  ship  individually  in  that  respect,  is  true  and  well  founded 
in  fact." 

To  this  investigation  Fathers  Conolly  and  Therry  were 
called11  as  witnesses;  and  Father  Therry's  sworn  evidence 
gives  an  adequate  description  of  the  conditions  of  life  on  board 
a  convict  transport  of  those  days.12 

Revd.  John  Joseph  Therry,  Catholic  priest,  passenger  on 
board  the  ship  Janus:  I  went  on  board  the  5th  of  Deer.,  1819. 
The  ship  was  at  sea.  On  account  of  the  state  of  my  health,  I 
confined  myself  to  my  cabin,  and  therefore  had  not  an  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  what  took  place  on  board  the  ship.  I  did 
nevertheless  form  an  opinion  as  to  what  was  going  on  in  the 
ship.  The  utmost  prevalence  of  vice,  in  respect  to  illicit  inter- 
course, prevailed.  I  mean  with  all  the  men,  it  was  general.  I 
do  believe  there  was  general  criminal  intercourse  between  the 
sailors  and  the  female  convicts.  I  expostulated  with  officers 
and  captain  frequently ;  finding  my  expostulations  of  no  use,  I 
discontinued  them.  About  10  o'clock  one  night,  I  thought  I 
saw  a  woman  in  the  captain's  cabin.  It  was  public  talk  on 
board,  everybody  knew  it,  that  the  female  convicts  came  from 
the  prison  in  the  night ;  the  captain  always  showed  the  best  dis- 
position, and  said  he  would  do  everything  in  his  power  to 
prevent  it,  but  observed,  if  he  was  too  severe,  he  had  great 
fears  the  crew  would  mutiny.  I  apprehend  the  captain  did 
not  use  his  best  endeavours  to  suppress  this  intercourse.  I 
thought  him  sincere  at  the  time  he  was  speaking  to  me;  but 
afterwards  from  his  actions  I  had  reason  to  think  differently; 
from  the  situation  of  the  ship,  I  think  it  impossible  for  the 
captain  totally  to  prevent  it;  had  I  have  had  the  control 
of  the  ship,  I  think  it  might  have  been  very  much  suppressed. 
The  grating  in  the  hatchway  seemed  to  me  in  the  first  instance 
to  have  been  improperly  fitted ;  nor  did  it  appear  sufficiently 
strong.  There  was  no  wind  sail,  by  which  the  wind  could 
be  let  into  the  prison  without  opening  a  communication  be- 
tween the  sailors  and  the  women,  which  afforded  the  great- 
est facility  of  communication;  the  partition  from  the  prison 
room  was  only  upright  boards  about  nine  inches  wide,  and  I 
understand  there  was  a  piece  of  board  put  between  the  opening 
at  night  and  removed  in  the  day  for  ventilation ;  this  afforded 

11  See  Appendix  A,  No.  1. 

12  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  x.,  p.  328. 


22  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

ready  communication  between  the  sailors  and  the  prisoners; 
they  could  not  get  through  the  stancheons,  but  could  make 
assignations.  I  have  often  heard  the  surgeon  sup'd't  converse 
with  the  captain  on  the  subject;  he  has  called  me  in  to  be 

present I  think  the  proportion  of  the  Catholic  female 

convicts  was  about  one-third,  and  that  they  did  not  enter 
into  the  illicit  intercourse I  am  certain  greater  en- 
deavours might  have  been  made  to  prevent  the  illicit  inter- 
course between  the  sailors  and  women.  I  consider  these  mal- 
practices to  be  permitted,  as  it  must  have  been  known  by  the 
captain  and  the  officers  that  these  communications  took 
place 

This  testimony  was  upheld  by  several  witnesses,  some  of 
whom  referred  to  the  efforts  to  remedy  these  evils  made  by  the 
Catholic  priests  whilst  on  board  the  Janus. 

It  was  his  first  experience — a  violent  and  disgusting  initia- 
tion. The  picture  is  not  overdrawn.  Convicts  as  they  were 
on  leaving  England,  they  were  worse  when  they  arrived  at 
their  prison  destination. 

In  the  Sydney  Gazette  of  the  6th  of  May,  1820,  there 
appeared  this  item:  "On  Tuesday  (3rd  May)  arrived  from 
England  and  Ireland  the  ship  Janus,  Captain  Mo  watt,  having 
on  board  105  female  prisoners  and  26  children.  She  sailed 
from  the  Cove  of  Cork  the  5th  of  December;  entered  the 
harbour  of  Rio  the  7th  of  February,  and  delayed  a  fortnight. 
Passengers,  Rev.  Philip  Conolly  and  Rev.  John  Joseph  Therry." 


CHAPTER   III. 

"Thou  hast  a  lapful  of  seed, 
And  this  is  a  fair  country. 
Why  dost  thou  not  cast  thy  seed, 
And  live  in  it  merrily?" 

Shall  I  cast  it  on  the  sand, 

And  turn  it  into  fruitful  land? 

For  on  no  other  ground  can  I  sow  my  seed 

Without  tearing  up  some  stinking  weed. 

— William  Blake. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  picture  the  joy  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
Catholic  population  of  Sydney  when  the  news  of  the  arrival 
of  the  two  priests  was  spread  abroad.  Their  long  night  of 
privation  and  suffering  was  ended.  From  the  days  when 
Father  O'Flynn  had  been  sent  out  of  the  country  they  had 
struggled  to  keep  alight  the  flame  of  their  religion;  and  their 
efforts  were  at  last  rewarded. 

The  position  of  the  missionaries'  first  lodgings  has  long 
been  a  matter  of  conjecture.  One  writer  locates  Father  Conolly 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Davis,  and  Father  Therry  at  that  of  Mr. 
Dempsey.  This  is  wrong.  Father  Therry  stayed  on  board 
the  Janus  after  arrival,  whilst  Father  Conolly  looked  for  hos- 
pitality on  shore.   Finding  it,  he  wrote: — 

Captain  Piper  has  given  me  in  the  most  kind  manner  a 
permit.  Send  the  baggage  as  soon  as  you  can  by  the  bearer. 
I  shall  meet  him  on  the  King's  Wharf,  or  shall  send  the  permit 
by  a  proper  person.  I  cannot  get  any  bags  here.  Do  you 
borrow  one  from  the  captain ;  if  you  cannot  do  that,  get  bed 
and  blankets  folded  in  the  quilt  and  throw  them  in  the  boat 
together  with  a  key,  which  you  will  find  tied  up  in  a  brown 
paper.  If  you  do  not  come,  let  me  know  what  time  I  shall 
send  a  boat  for  you. 

Mr.  Davis  of  Charlotte  Square,  near  the  Church,  at  whose 
house  I  write  this,  has  kindly  agreed  to  lodge  us,  &c,  until 
we  get  a  regular  place  for  ourselves. 

P.  Conolly. 

Removing  to  this  hospitable  house,  Father  Therry  remained 
at  it  even  after  Father  Conolly's  departure  later,  and  to  it  all 

23 


24  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

his  correspondence  at  this  time  was  addressed.  Here  it  was 
that  the  consecrated  Host  had  been  left  by  Father  O'Flynn; 
but  it  is  probable  that  it  had  already  been  consumed  by  a 
French  chaplain  who  visited  the  settlement  before  the  arrival 
of  the  missionaries,  for  they  make  no  mention  of  this  interest- 
ing fact  in  any  of  their  letters.1  In  one  of  the  volumes  of  his 
exceedingly  scrappy  diary,  Father  Therry  states  that  on  the 
7th  of  May  Father  Conolly  celebrated  Mass,  and  on  the  8th 
he  himself  offered  up  Holy  Mass  for  "the  glory  of  God,  and  in 
honour  of  St.  Michael."  The  house  which  they  used  for  a 
temporary  chapel  at  this  date  was  that  of  John  Reddington  in 
Pitt  Row,  near  where  Her  Majesty's  Theatre  now  stands. 

No  time  was  lost  by  the  two  priests  in  beginning  their 
work.  There  was  no  church  to  which  they  might  summon 
their  flock;  there  was  no  school  where  they  could  find  their 
children.  These  two  needs  were  the  most  pressing,  and  to 
them  they  directed  their  earliest  efforts.  Hardly  a  month  had 
elapsed  when  a  meeting  was  held  to  excite  public  interest  in 
their  needs.  The  Gazette  gives  the  information  that  "at  a 
meeting  of  the  Roman  Catholics  of  Sydney,  held  on  the  15th 
of  June,  1820,  in  Pitt  Street,  at  the  premises  of  the  late  Mr. 
John  Reddington,  the  Rev.  Philip  Conolly  in  the  chair,  it  was 
unanimously  resolved:  'That  having  no  convenient  place  to 
celebrate  the  rites  of  our  religion,  and  confiding  in  the  bene- 
volent disposition  of  our  fellow-colonists  in  the  different 
districts  of  New  South  Wales  to  join  with  us  in  erecting  a 
house  of  worship,  we  earnestly  require  those  who  feel  in- 
terested in  so  desirable  an  undertaking,  to  assemble  with  us 
at  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  12  o'clock,  on  the  30th  instant,  at  the 
Court  House,   Sydney,   for  the  purpose   of  considering  and 


1This  statement  is,  of  course,  no  more  than  a  personal  opinion. 
Dom  Birt  writes  that  "these  priests,  Fathers  Conolly  and  Therry, 
found  the  Sacred  Species  incorrupt,"  and  he  is  not  the  only  historian 
to  believe  it.  But  the  late  Archbishop  Carr,  in  a  speech  made  at 
the  London  Eucharistic  Congress,  agrees  with  the  opinion  just 
expressed,  as  did  Dr.  Ullathorne — see  his  Autobiography,  p.  166. 
The  vessel  on  which  the  French  priest  sailed  was  afterwards  wrecked, 
and  with  it  perished  any  documents  that  might  have  cleared  up  the 
matter. 


A    CATHOLIC    CHAPEL  25 

determining  on  the  most  effectual  mode  of  opening  a  sub- 
scription to  build  a  Roman  Catholic  chapel  in  Sydney.  P. 
Conolly,  Chairman.'  " 

The  step  they  had  determined  upon  was  of  vast  import- 
ance, but  it  was  difficult  to  accomplish. 

On  the  30th  the  advertised  meeting  took  place  at  the  Court 
House,  and  met  with  unexpected  success,  revealing  that  the 
Catholics  had  a  large  number  of  Protestant  sympathisers. 
On  July  1  the  Gazette  published  a  full  account  of  the  reso- 
lutions adopted  at  the  meeting: — 

A  public  meeting  was  held  on  the  30th  June,  1820,  at  the 
Court  House,  Sydney,  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  measures 
to  effect  the  very  desirable  object  of  erecting  a  place  of 
worship  for  the  use  of  the  Roman  Catholics  of  this  colony. 
The  meeting  was  attended  by  all  the  respectable  Roman 
Catholics  of  the  colony,  and  also  some  Protestant  gentlemen 
of  sentiments  friendly  to  the  design.  The  chair  was  taken  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Conolly.  At  the  opening  of  the  meeting,  and  in 
the  course  of  its  proceedings,  the  chairman  suggested  the  pro- 
priety of  confining  their  deliberations  to  the  object  stated  in  the 
requisition  by  which  they  were  called  together,  namely:  'To 
consider  and  determine  on  the  most  effectual  mode  of  opening 
a  subscription  to  build  a  Catholic  chapel  in  Sydney/  Other 
matters,  however,  being  proposed,  a  series  of  resolutions  were 
adopted  in  substance  as  follows : — 

j st.  That  it  is  the  indispensable  duty  of  the  Catholics  of 
this  colony  to  unite  in  their  efforts  with  their  clergy  to  build 
a  house  of  divine  worship  in  the  town  of  Sydney. 

2nd.  That,  having  assembled  for  this  purpose,  we  deem 
it  a  primary  and  most  pleasing  duty  not  to  lose  this  oppor- 
tunity to  express  our  esteem  and  veneration  for  His  Majesty's 
Government  in  England,  and  our  gratitude  to  the  enlightened 
and  benevolent  Minister  who  presides  over  the  Colonial  De- 
partment, whose  anxious  care  has  afforded  us  the  object  of 
our  solicitations,  in  selecting  and  sending  to  us  ministers  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  to  administer  to  us  the  long- 
looked-for  rites  of  our  holy  religion. 

3rd.  It  is  also  our  incumbent  duty  to  express  our  con- 
fidence in,  and  gratitude  to,  His  Excellency  Lachlan  Macquarie. 
Esq.,  Captain-General  and  Governor  in  Chief,  for  the  polite 
attention  these  reverend  gentlemen  have    experienced    from 


26  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

him,  and  for  the  benevolent  disposition  evinced  towards  our- 
selves. 

4th.  We  should  also  be  wanting  in  our  duty  if  we  did  not 
avow  the  great  estimation  in  which  we  hold  the  Honorable 
the  Commissioner  of  Enquiry,  or  neglected  to  express  our 
thanks  for  his  congratulatory  letter  to  the  Catholics  of  this 
colony  on  the  arrival  of  their  pastors.  It  is  calculated  to 
increase  our  confidence  in  Government,  to  afford  consolation 
to  us  at  present,  and  serves  to  cheer  and  enlighten  our  future 
prospects. 

5th.  That  a  committee  of  the  subscribers  be  immediately 
chosen  for  the  management,  conducting,  and  selecting  a  site 
for  the  building.  That  our  clergymen  are  requested  to  be  of 
this  number,  and  they  are  empowered  to  name  their  president. 
All  contracts  for  the  completion  of  it  shall  be  confided  to  the 
committee,  whose  chairman  or  president  shall  ratify  the  same 
under  his  hand,  and  all  receipts  and  payments  of  money  or 
otherwise  will  be,  in  like  manner,  notified  by  him.  That  the 
committee  so  named  shall  have  power  of  selecting  and  appoint- 
ing, in  the  several  districts  and  settlements  of  the  colony,  col- 
lectors to  apply  for  contributions  to  be  handed  to  the  treasurer, 
with  lists  of  the  persons'  names  and  their  subscriptions.  Each 
collector  shall  have  his  appointment  authorized  by  a  printed 
letter,  directed  by  the  president  of  the  committee  to  the  dis- 
trict where  he  resides. 

6th.  That  our  Protestant  fellow-colonists,  who  have  co- 
operated with  us  at  this  meeting,  as  well  as  those  who  have 
evinced  a  disposition  to  aid  us  by  their  contributions,  merit 
our  lasting  esteem  and  gratitude. 

ph.  That  the  Rev.  Philip  Conolly  and  the  Rev.  John  Joseph 
Therry  have  merited,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  gratitude  of 
the  Catholics  of  New  South  Wales,  on  account  of  the  hazard- 
ous enterprise  they  have  undertaken,  and  the  zeal  they  have 
manifested  since  their  arrival,  in  the  discharge  of  their 
sacerdotal  functions. 

8th.  That  John  Piper,  Robert  Jenkins,  and  Francis  Wil- 
liams, Esquires,  be  requested  by  this  meeting  to  collect  the 
subscriptions  of  the  Protestant  inhabitants  of  Sydney,  as  the 
high  respectability  must  attend  their  co-operation.  And,  in 
order  to  enable  them  to  exert  themselves  with  as  little  trouble 
and  as  great  efficiency  as  possible,  they  be  authorised  by  this 
meeting  to  form  themselves  into  a  select  committee,  having 
a  power  to  add  to  their  number  any  other  gentlemen  in  Sydney, 
or  in  the  country,  whose  exertions  they  may  consider  useful 


RESTORING    ORDER  27 

in  facilitating  and  expediting  the  collection  of  the  subscrip- 
tions in  the  different  districts  of  the  colony. 

gth.  That,  being  informed  that,  on  the  application  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Conolly,  Mr.  Secretary  Campbell  has  kindly  con- 
sented to  become  our  treasurer,  we  feel  it  our  duty  to  return 
him  our  most  sincere  thanks. 

ioth.  That  the  Honourable  the  Judge  Advocate,  in  kindly 
and  politely  granting  us  the  Court  House  to  hold  this  meeting, 
is  entitled  to  our  grateful  thanks. 

nth.  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Conolly  and  the  Rev.  John  Joseph 
Therry,  Mr.  James  Meehan,  Mr.  William  Davis,  Mr.  James 
Dempsey,  Mr.  Edward  Redmond,  Mr.  Patrick  Moore,  Mr. 
Michael  Hayes,  and  Mr.  Martin  Short  do  form  the  committee. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Conolly  having  left  the  chair,  and  James 
xMeehan,  Esq.,  being  called  thereto,  the  thanks  of  the  meeting 
were  unanimously  voted  to  the  Rev.  Philip  Conolly  for  his 
very  proper  conduct  as  chairman  of  the  meeting." 

The  resolutions  of  the  meeting  were  printed  in  pamphlet 
form,  and  widely  distributed.  Annexed  to  the  copy  was  a 
request  that  the  recipient  enrol  himself  as  collector  of  funds 
in  a  specified  district. 

The  terms  of  the  second  resolution  of  gratitude  to  the 
Home  Government  for  the  "anxious  care"  it  showed  in  sup- 
plying pastors  for  the  large  Catholic  community  were  at  least 
cautious  and  diplomatic,  if  not  scrupulously  correct.  The 
meeting  foreshadowed  a  bright  future  for  the  Catholics  of 
Australia;  but  its  most  pleasant  result  was  the  disclosure  of 
the  sympathetic  interest  of  the  Protestant  community.  Nor 
was  this  interest  confined  to  mere  words;  their  exertions  and 
their  money  were  offered  generously. 

The  missionaries'  first  task  was  to  restore  order  out  of  the 
chaos  resulting  from  the  absence  of  pastors  for  so  many  years. 
The  diary  left  by  Father  Therry  shows  the  variety  and  the 
extent  of  his  duties  in  these  early  years.  Many  Catholics  were 
unbaptized ;  marriages  had  taken  place  without  the  blessing  of 
the  Church ;  children  were  uninstructed  in  their  own  religion, 
and  forced  to  learn  the  doctrines  of  a  Church  in  which  they 
did  not  believe  ;  religious  indifference  had  grown ;  there  was  no 
church  at  which  Catholics  could  assemble  for  Mass.   Arrange- 


28  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

ments  were  soon  made  for  the  celebration  of  Mass  in  the 
Reddington  house  in  Pitt  Street,  and  later  on  in  the  Court 
House.2  On  the  17th  of  May  Father  Therry  wrote  to  the 
Governor  for  permission  to  celebrate  Mass  in  one  of  the  rooms 
of  a  Government  Store  at  Parramatta.  This  request  was 
refused,  and  no  alternative  remained  but  to  make  use  of  a 
friendly  private  house  there. 

It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  the  Government's  actions  at 
various  times.  The  Governor  had  given  the  missionaries  per- 
mission to  carry  out  their  priestly  duties  as  sanctioned  by  the 
Home  Government;  but  in  conveying  this  permission  he  im- 
posed conditions  that  would  make  their  task  hopeless — as  is 
shown  by  the  following  document,  taken  from  a  copy  made  by 
Father  Therry  in  1820.  Fortunately  Father  Therry,  although 
protesting  against  this  gross  infringement  of  ecclesiastical 
rights,  was  wise  enough  to  disregard  conditions  which  he 
could  not  in  conscience  carry  out.   The  Governor  wrote : — 

Government  House,  Sydney, 

Gentlemen,  6th  -Tune'  l82° 

In  conformity  with  the  wish  you  have  ex- 
pressed to  be  informed  of  the  line  of  conduct,  which,  in  my 
opinion,  you  should  pursue  in  the  performance  of  your  clerical 
duties  in  New  South  Wales  and  Van  Diemen's  Land,  I  will- 
ingly embrace  the  occasion  to  express  feelingly  and  candidly 
to  you  what  I  conceive  is  the  course  you  are  called  upon,  by 
your  sacred  functions  and  a  due  regard  to  the  laws  of  the 
mother  country,  to  pursue. 

2  This  was  the  oldest  Court  House — merely  a  wing  of  the  General 
Hospital  in  Macquarie  Street.  The  historian  of  the  Sydney  Hospital 
writes:  "The  patients  .  .  .  were  accommodated  in  three  wards  at  the 
southern  end  of  the  main  building.  ...  Of  the  remaining  five  wards, 
the  four  at  the  northern  end  were  allotted  to  the  use  of  the  newly- 
established  Supreme  Court;  the  two  lower  ones  accommodated  the 
Court  itself,  and  the  two  upper  ones  were  for  the  convenience  of  the 
presiding  judge."  .  .  .  Watson's  History  of  the  Sydney  Hospital,  p.  39- 

In  September,  1823,  the  building  in  Castlereagh  Street  until  lately 
known  as  the  Girls'  High  School  (which  Macquarie  had  originally  built 
for  a  school-house)  became  for  a  time  the  Court  House,  and  Mass  was 
celebrated  there  for  several  years,  even  after  the  official  Court  House 
had  been  again  transferred  in  July,  1827,  to  its  permanent  quarters  in 
King  Street.  This  migratory  character  of  the  "Court  House"  must  be 
kept  in  mind  when  later  references  to  it  are  encountered. 


MARRIAGE    REGULATIONS  29 

Although,  by  the  laws  of  England,  marriages  there  can  only 
be  legally  celebrated  by  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England, 
yet,  as  I  find  that  all  the  provisions  of  the  Marriage  Act  do 
not  extend  to  the  colonies  of  Great  Britain,  you  are  at  liberty 
to  celebrate  marriages  between  parties  where  both  are  Roman 
Catholics,  subject,  however,  to  the  following  regulations : — 

1st. — That  the  names,  residences,  and  descriptions  of  the 
persons  desiring  to  be  joined  together  in  holy  wedlock  (pro- 
vided they  be  convicts,  or  either  of  them  a  convict)  be  trans- 
mitted in  like  manner  as  is  done  by  the  chaplains  of  the  Church 
of  England  to  the  Governor,  and  his  permission  obtained  for 
the  ceremony  taking  place. 

2nd. — That  you  transmit  applications  to  the  Governor  for 
leave  to  celebrate  marriages  in  all  cases,  where  it  is  required, 
on  the  first  Monday  (or  as  early  as  possible  in  the  first  week) 
of  each  month,  in  the  same  manner  as  is  done  by  the  chaplains 
of  the  Church  of  England. 

3rd. — That  you  keep  a  register  of  all  marriages  which  shall 
be  celebrated  by  you,  regularly  vouched,  and  capable  of  being 
duly  authenticated  in  all  cases,  when  proof  of  a  marriage  may 
be  required. 

4th. — That  you  make  a  quarterly  return  to  the  Governor 
of  all  marriages,  which  shall  have  been  celebrated  by  you 
within  that  period,  and,  in  order  that  your  said  returns  may 
coincide  in  regard  to  dates  with  similar  ones  made  by  the  Pro- 
testant chaplains,  you  will  please  to  consider  the  four  quarters 
of  the  year  as  terminating  respectively  with  the  31st  of  March, 
the  30th  of  June,  the  30th  of  September,  and  the  31st  of 
December. 

But  you  are,  on  no  account  or  consideration  whatever,  to 
celebrate  marriage  between  parties  being  Protestants,  or  where 
one  is  a  Protestant,  or  where  one  or  both  is  or  are  of  any  other 
religious  persuasion  than  that  of  Roman  Catholics.  The  steady 
adherence  to  this  injunction  involving  in  it  the  rights  of  legiti- 
macy and  inheritance,  it  will  be  your  duty  to  keep  this  pro- 
hibition at  all  times  clearly  in  view,  both  as  it  regards  your 
obedience  to  a  direct  command  and  as  it  is  of  absolute  necess- 
ity to  guard  against  the  validity  of  such  marriages  being  here- 
after called  in  question,  and  thereby  the  inheritance  of  property 
rendered  doubtful  and  insecure.  It  would  therefore  appear  a 
measure  of  sound  policy  on  your  part,  on  behalf  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  R.omish  communion,  and  would  mark  in  a  very 
gratifying  way  your  disposition  to  maintain  and  uphold  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  mother  country,  were  you  fre- 


30  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

quently  to  impress  on  their  minds  that  the  legitimacy  of  their 
offspring,  and  their  claims  to  the  inheritance  of  property,  will 
hinge  on  the  validity  of  the  marriages  of  parents. 

The  penalty  attached  to  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  for  cele- 
brating the  marriage  ceremony  between  parties  other  than  those 
immediately  belonging  to  and  members  of  the  Church  of  Rome 
must  be  too  well  known  to  you  to  require  me  to  say  more  on 
that  subject  than  merely  to  call  it  thus  to  your  mind,  and, 
therefore,  I  need  not  dwell  on  the  risk  that  would  be  incurred 
by  your  performing  such  forbidden  service.  Your  own  good 
sense  and  feeling,  not  only  of  propriety,  but  of  personal  re- 
ponsibility  also,  will  fully  mark  the  line  of  conduct  you  have 
to  pursue  in  all  such  cases. 

You  have  likewise  my  permission  to  baptize  the  children  of 
parents  of  the  Roman  Catholic  communion,  but  you  are  strictly 
enjoined  to  confine  yourselves  in  the  performance  of  that  ser- 
vice to  those  persons  of  your  own  communion. 

I  see  no  objection  whatever  to  your  performing  the  funeral 
service  according  to  the  rites  of  your  Church  when  called  upon, 
over  the  remains  of  any  deceased  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  persuasion. 

In  the  way  of  advice,  I  have  to  recommend  strongly  to  you, 
for  the  sake  of  concord  with  the  members  of  other  religious 
persuasions,  that  you  endeavour  not  to  make  converts  from  the 
Established  Church  (or  generally  from  the  Protestant  Church), 
but  that  you  confine  your  spiritual  ministry  to  those  persons 
exclusively  who  are  of  the  Romish  communion.  Indeed,  within 
your  own  flock,  which  is  very  numerous,  you  will  have  quite 
enough  of  duty  to  perform  conscientiously,  without  attempting, 
by  proselytizing,  to  acquire  additional  members.  What  I  have 
already  observed  on  this  subject  is  altogether  in  the  form  of 
advice,  for  the  laws  of  England,  to  which  we  must  all  conform 
at  our  peril,  are  too  strong  to  require  me  to  be  more  explicit 
in  regard  to  their  operation. 

I  shall  now  advert  to  some  points,  which  are  more  of 
necessary  local  arrangement  and  political  expediency  in  this 
colony,  than  what  I  have  already  dwelt  on,  and  shall  preface 
them  by  observing  to  you  that  the  melancholy  effects  lately 
produced  in  England  by  large  popular  meetings  under  the  itin- 
erant political  demagogues,  long  practised  in  the  arts  of  faction, 
and  ripe  for  anarchy  and  confusion,  having  made  the  enact- 
ment of  certain  laws,  in  regard  to  future  assemblages  of 
people,  a  matter  of  absolute  necessity  in  order  to  restrain  the 
excesses  to  which  they  were  becoming  every  day  more  and 


OFFICIAL    RESTRICTIONS  31 

more  the  dupes,  it  will  be  incumbent  on  the  Government  to 
tread  in  the  steps  of  those  of  the  mother  country,  in  order  to 
avert  the  evils  arising  out  of  such  popular  meetings.  In  order, 
therefore,  to  guard  against  large  meetings  taking  place  under 
any  pretence  whatever,  unless  when  called  together  by  the 
proper  legal  authority,  it  will  be  expected  and  required  of 
you: — 

ist. — That,  when  you  shall  have  fixed  on  certain  stations 
whereat  you  propose  to  celebrate  service,  at  regular  periods, 
you  transmit  to  me.  or  the  Governor  for  the  time  being,  a 
return  of  the  places  you  shall  have  so  determined  on,  whereby 
I  shall  be  enabled  to  judge  of  their  fitness,  and  when  approved 
by  me,  I  shall  transmit  authority  to  the  magistrates  to  permit 
the  assemblage  of  your  congregation  at  those  particular  places. 
But  no  meeting  or  assemblage  of  Roman  Catholics,  consisting 
of  more  than  five  persons,  for  the  celebration  of  the  rites  or 
service  of  your  Church,  is  to  be  convened  or  held  at  any  other 
place  or  places  than  those  approved  in  the  foregoing  manner 
unless  leave  for  their  special  purposes  shall  have  been  first 
had  and  obtained  from  the  magistrate  residing  nearest  to  the 
proposed  place  of  assemblage,  and  notice  of  the  time,  at  which 
the  intended  meeting  may  be  proposed  to  be  held  shall  also  be 
given  to  the  said  magistrate,  whose  permission  must  be  ob- 
tained before  such  meeting  or  congregation  shall  be  assembled. 

2nd. — That  you  confine  the  public  celebration  of  Mass  to 
the  Sabbath  Day  and  the  holy  days  set  apart  by  the  Church  of 
England,  on  which  service  is  performed  accordingly  in  this 
colony  in  the  Established  Church. 

3rd. — That  you  administer  the  comforts  of  your  religion 
to  those  persons  exclusively  who  are  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
faith. 

4th. — That  on  Sundays  and  the  other  holy  days  of  the 
Church  of  England,  when  you  shall  celebrate  Mass,  you  adopt 
the  same  hours  for  that  service  as  are  prescribed  to  the  clergy 
of  the  Established  Church,  in  order  that  the  prisoners  of  the 
Crown  of  your  religious  persuasion  may  be  mustered  in  the 
same  manner  as  those  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  pro- 
ceed to  Mass,  and  return  from  it  under  the  charge  of  the 
constables  appointed  for  that  duty. 

5th. — That  you  do  not  interfere  with  the  religious  edu- 
cation of  orphans  in  the  Government  charitable  institutions 
of  this  colony,  they  being,  by  the  fundamental  regulations  of 
those  institutions,  to  be  instructed  in  the  faith  and  doctrine 
of  the  Church  of  England. 


32  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

6th. — That  you  keep  registers  and  make  regularly  quarterly 
returns,  to  the  Governor,  of  births  and  deaths  among  the  Roman 
Catholic  inhabitants,  in  like  manner  as  already  directed  for 
marriages,  and  the  returns  to  be  made  up  to  the  same  periods. 

Having  now,  gentlemen,  dwelt  on  the  principal  points,  both 
religious  and  political,  which  have  occurred  to  my  mind  at 
this  time,  I  shall  wind  up  these,  my  instructions,  by  assuring 
you  that  I,  at  present,  entertain  a  full  confidence  in  the  purity 
and  integrity  of  your  views  and  purposes,  as  you  have  ex- 
pressed them  to  me,  and  shall  feel  much  mortified,  indeed,  if 
I  should  hereafter  have  reason  to  doubt  that  purity  and  in- 
tegrity, or  to  call  in  question  any  part  of  your  conduct  in  the 
ministry  of  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  Rome. 

But  I  willingly  dismiss  that  subject  from  further  obser- 
vation, in  order  to  give  you  the  assurance  that  you  will  ever 
find  me  ready  to  advocate  and  support  the  religious  liberty 
of  your  flock,  and  to  maintain  your  own  just  rights  and  privi- 
leges, and  to  show  you  every  mark  of  favour  to  which  exem- 
plary conduct  can  lay  claim. 

I  am,  Reverend  Sirs, 

Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

L.    Macquarie. 

The  Revs.  Philip  Conolly  and  John  Joseph  Therry, 
Roman  Catholic  Chaplains  of  Sydney. 

Let  it  be  taken  into  consideration  that  the  colony  was  a 
penal  settlement,  so  that  the  greater  part  of  every  church  con- 
gregation was  convict;  grant  as  much  as  can  be  brought  for- 
ward in  defence ;  and  still  these  instructions  from  a  Governor 
who  "will  be  ever  ready  to  advocate  and  support  the  religious 
liberty  of  the  Catholic  flock"  remain  an  enigma.  The  names 
of  parties  desiring  to  be  married  could  be  handed  in  only  once 
a  month.  How  then  could  matrimonial  cases  of  conscience 
be  rectified?  It  was  not  as  if  there  were  many  priests  in  the 
colony.  During  country  visitations  an  opportunity  might  pre- 
sent itself  for  rectifying  an  invalid  or  illicit  marriage  contract ; 
but  nothing  could  be  done  until  the  Governor  was  notified 
at  the  beginning  of  the  following  month,  at  which  time  the 
priest  might  be  hundreds  of  miles  away.  Yet,  as  the  letter 
here  given  in  facsimile  shows,  Macquarie  refused  to  condone 
any   irregularities    in   procedure.     A    letter   of    protest    from 


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GOVERNOR    MACQUARIE 
(From    the  portrait  by  Opie  in  the  Mitchell  Library,  Sydney) 


To  face  p.    32 


A    DETERMINED    PROTEST  33 

Father  Therry,  written  in  the  following  year  (also  shown 
facsimile),  gives  an  instance  of  the  impossibility  of  carrying 
out  any  such  condition. 

Charlotte  Place,  Sydney, 
12  January,  182 1. 

Sir, 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  this  day's  date, 
enclosing  one  which  I  yesterday  addressed  to  the  Secretary, 
and  which  was  as  conformable  as  I  possibly  could  make  it,  to 
the  copy  with  which  you  then  had  the  kindness  to  furnish  me. 

The  words  which  the  Secretary  requires  to  be  added  to 
those  which  I  used  in  the  heading  of  my  letter,  I  could,  but 
for  one  circumstance  applying  to  the  present  case,  have  no 
hesitation  in  adopting. 

This  circumstance  I  beg  leave,  most  respectfully  to  explain 
for  the  Secretary's  perusal,  viz :  there  is  one  of  the  persons, 
mentioned  in  the  list  which  I  transmitted,  who  is  a  Protestant 
and  this  person  has  for  a  series  of  years  held,  and  continues 
to  hold  a  criminal  connection  with  the  one  to  whom  the  former 
wishes  now  to  be  married,  and  they  will  not  consent  to  be 
married  in  church. 

But  His  Excellency  the  Governor  has  given  to  us,  a  verbal 
general  permission  (which  it  is  to  be  hoped,  for  the  sake  of 
public  morality,  His  Excelly  does  not,  now,  mean  to  recall) 
to  marry  persons  similarly  circumstanced. 

This  explanation  will  (if  the  hope  I  have  just  now  ex- 
pressed is  well  founded)  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  the  non- 
adoption,  on  this  occasion,  of  the  words,  having  reference  to 
this  subject,  recommended  by  the  Secretary. 

But  if  His  Excelly  will  not  allow  of  any  apology;  in  order 
to  evince  my  most  sincerely-felt  desire  strictly  to  obey  His 
Excelly's  every  order  (when  it  does  not  interfere  with  a  more 
sacred  and  absolute  duty)  I  shall  cheerfully  as  to  myself,  but 
with  regret,  as  it  regards  Religion,  adopt  the  required  altera- 
tion :  leaving  out  the  parties  above  adverted  to ;  tho'  this  altera- 
tion will  be  attended,  indirectly,  by  an  exposure  of  their 
names. 

I  also  beg  leave  to  state,  with  the  greatest  deference,  that 
the  regulation  which  prohibits  any  application  for  permission 
to  be  married,  being  made,  at  any  other  time,  than  the  first 
week  of  every  month,  will,  if  enforced,  be  attended  with  the 
most  incalculable  inconvenience  to  convicts  (who  of  course 
have  not  the  command  of  their  own  time)  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Communion  who  may  be  desirous  to  enter  into  the 
marriage  state,  and  will  in  a  majority  of  instances,  be  tanta- 


34  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

mount  to  a  total  prohibition  of  their  being  married  by  a 
Clergyman  of  their  own  Church,  in  a  country  so  extensive  as 
is  this  where  the  population  is  so  much  dispersed,  where  there 
are  now  but  two  Roman  Catholic  Chaplains  and  where  in  a 
few  days  there  will  be  but  one. 

I  am  Sir  your  Ob*  Serv*. 

John  Joseph  Therry. 
James  Atkinson  Esq1" 

For  years  after  this  date  there  are  records  of  the  names 
of  those  contemplating  marriage,  their  condition  (whether 
free  or  convict),  and  the  accompanying  official  letters  giving 
permission  for  marriage  or  prohibiting  it. 

The  instructions  issued  by  Governor  Macquarie  must  be 
studied  more  closely,  as  they  afford  a  faithful  picture  of  the 
conditions  under  which  these  early  priests  worked.  In  the 
light  of  the  ever-recurring  discussions  concerning  the  Ne 
Temere  decree  of  Pope  Pius  X,  it  is  interesting  to  find  that 
the  Pontiff  had  been  forestalled,  by  almost  a  hundred  years, 
in  the  far-reaching  regulations  and  prohibitions  contained  in 
Macquarie's  fourth  article.  The  priest  might  not  officiate  at 
the  marriage  of  a  Catholic  and  Protestant,  under  the  pain  of 
penalties  so  well  known  that  the  Governor  does  not  require 
to  say  more  on  the  subject.  Such  a  marriage  would  be  invalid, 
and  would  involve  the  legitimacy  of  offspring  and  the  rights  of 
inheritance.  The  Ne  Temere  decree  falls  far  short  in  its 
claims  and  penalties  of  the  results  consequent  upon  Mac- 
quarie's regulations.  (It  is,  however,  just  to  add  that  these 
regulations  were  afterwards  repudiated  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment;  see  p.  91  below.)  The  missionaries  were  further  re- 
stricted, in  the  celebration  of  Mass,  to  Sundays,  and  such  holy 
days  as  were  set  apart  by  the  Church  of  England.  They  were 
advised  to  confine  their  ministrations  to  their  own  flock,  and  to 
beware  of  receiving  converts  from  any  of  the  Protestant  re- 
ligions into  their  own.  That  this  regulation  was  not  taken 
seriously,  or  that  it  was  later  withdrawn,  is  clear  from  the 
numerous  letters  written  to  Father  Therry  requesting  his  at- 
tendance at  the  bedsides  of  Protestants,  or  at  the  scaffold  on 


FATHER    CONOLLY  35 

which,  as  in  some  cases,  three  converts  to  Catholicism  were  to 
be  hanged. 

The  most  serious  prohibition  placed  upon  Father  Therry 
was  that  forbidding  him  to  see  his  Catholic  children  in  the 
State  Orphan  Schools.  "By  the  fundamental  regulations  of 
these  institutions,  all  children  are  to  be  instructed  in  the  faith 
and  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  England,"  the  Governor  had 
written.  This  was  one  of  the  few  regulations  that  were  en- 
forced; and  against  it  Father  Therry  fought  relentlessly  for 
years.  We  shall  see  more  of  this  restriction  both  in  New 
South  Wales  and  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Only  small  mention  has  been  made  of  Father  Conolly's 
labours  in  New  South  Wales.  The  reason  is  simple;  there 
is  no  record  of  what  he  did,  apart  from  his  chairmanship  of 
the  meetings  for  the  building  of  a  chapel.  He  left  no  lasting 
impression  upon  the  people  of  Sydney.  Dean  Kenny,  who 
knew  him  and  lived  with  him  on  the  Tasmanian  mission,  says 
that  he  "was  a  man  of  no  small  ability  and  attainments,  but 
he  had  become  antiquated  in  his  manners,  on  account  of  being 
so  long  by  himself.  He  was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland, 
very  witty  and  full  of  dry  humour  and  caustic  remarks,  and 
had  often  shown  great  adroitness  in  his  correspondence  with 
those  in  authority."3 

Father  Conolly  was  the  senior  priest,  and  had  been  placed 
in  charge  of  the  mission.  But  he  was  an  easy-going  man, 
devoid  of  the  energy  required  to  work  successfully  a  vast 
country  with  only  a  single  assistant.  The  contrast  between 
the  two  priests  is  marked.  One  was  self-indulgent,  the  other 
impetuous  and  generous  almost  to  excess.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  two  men  so  differently  constituted  could  not  agree.  Nor 
was  the  fault  wholly  on  Father  Conolly's  side.  Father  Therry's 
quick  temper — which  was  to  show  itself  on  later  occasions 
of  which  we  have  evidence — was  as  difficult  for  Father 
Conolly  to  endure  as  it  was  afterwards  distressing  to  Dr. 
Ullathorne.    He  had,  moreover,  a  disposition  as  ready  to  for- 

3  Progress  of  Catholicity  in  Australia,  p.  69. 


5a 


36  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

give  as  to  find  fault,  and  a  boundless  store  of  energy  that  im- 
pelled him  to  remedy  at  once  the  accumulated  grievances  of 
years.  These  characteristics,  coming  into  contact  with  Father 
Conolly's  easy-going  methods  and  indolent  administration, 
would  prevent  the  two  priests  from  rinding  common  ground 
on  which  to  work. 

This  fact  was  soon  so  evident  that  Father  Therry  deter- 
mined to  go  to  Van  Diemen's  Land.  The  southern  island  was 
part  of  their  charge,  and  its  large  convict  and  free  population 
was  in  need  of  a  chaplain.  Macquarie,  who  had  at  an  early 
date  recognized  that  in  Father  Therry  he  had  a  determined 
man  to  deal  with,  warned  the  Governor  (Sorell)  of  Van 
Diemen's  Land,  when  the  contemplated  transfer  became 
known,  that  "Mr.  Therry  in  the  short  period  of  his  residence 
here  having  on  several  instances  acted  counter  both  to  the 
letter  and  spirit  of  His  Excellency's  instructions,  it  is  His 
Excellency's  desire  that  you  should  be  apprized  of  this  fact, 
in  order  to  your  adopting  such  measures  as  Mr.  Therry's  con- 
duct under  your  Government  may  warrant."  Father  Therry  set 
out  early  in  1821 ;  but  the  ship  by  which  he  travelled  was 
forced  to  put  back  again  into  Sydney  Harbour,  owing  to  bad 
weather,  an  occurrence  but  for  which  the  history  of  the  Church 
in  Australia  might  have  turned  out  very  differently.  The  people 
appreciated  this  providential  return.  "It  is  an  ill  wind  that 
blows  nobody  any  good,"  they  said.  When  the  ship  sailed 
again  it  had  as  before  a  passenger  for  Van  Diemen's  Land — 
not  Father  Therry,  but  the  senior  priest,  Father  Conolly. 
He  remained  in  Tasmania  till  his  death  in  1839,  after  a  life  of 
sorrow  and  the  bitterest  misunderstandings.4 

Father  Therry  was  now  alone  in  a  vast  continent.  No  great 
progress  had  been  made.  The  children  were  still  out  of  his 
hands,  and  his  congregation  was  still  without  a  church  in 
which  to  hear  Mass.  The  task  that  confronted  him  was  tre- 
mendous; but  he  faced  it  with  an  unflinching  courage  and  a 

*His   relations  with   Father   Therry,   though   never   really   friendly, 
were  for  some  time  at  least  amicable.    See  letter  in  Appendix  A,  No.  7. 


DUTIES   OF   A   PASTOR  37 

firm  faith  in  the  goodness  of  God  and  the  generosity  of  the 
Catholic  people  of  New  South  Wales.  Letters  for  him  in  182 1 
were  usually  addressed  to  "Charlotte  Place,"  or  "The  Rocks/' 
"in  care  of  Mr.  Davis;"5  and  many  are  still  extant  that  ask 
him  to  make  appointments  to  meet  some  of  his  parishioners 
at  this  address.  But  he  was  rarely  at  Davis's  hospitable  home 
for  any  great  length  of  time;  the  greater  part  of  his  day  ap- 
pears to  have  been  spent  in  the  saddle.  Some  early  writers 
mention  that  a  horse  was  always  waiting  ready  harnessed 
at  his  front  gate.  On  return  from  a  distant  call,  the  tired 
horse  was  given  a  rest,  the  waiting  one  taken,  and  a  second 
horse  harnessed  in  readiness  for  emergency.  The  multiplicity 
of  his  interests  and  ministrations  is  astounding  to  us  of  a 
century  later,  even  though  we  reckon  distance  in  terms  of  rail- 
ways and  quick  locomotion.  But  distances  seemed  to  have  no 
terrors  for  him. 

A  rough  draft  of  a  letter  written  at  this  time  presents  a 
striking  picture  of  his  labours.   He  assures  the  Governor  that 

the  duties  of  a  pastor  are  so  well  known  as  to  render  it  neces- 
sary to  advert  only  to  those  which  are  peculiar  to  my  situation. 
I  have  to  celebrate  Divine  Service  and  give  public  instruction 
at  Parramatta  or  Liverpool  once,  and  in  Sydney  twice  on  every 
Sunday,  frequently  to  visit  the  hospitals,  and  attend  all  persons 
professing  the  Catholic  religion  who  may  be  in  danger  of 
death,  within  a  circuit  of  about  200  miles. 

In  order  to  discharge  these  and  other  duties,  I  have  fre- 
quently been  obliged  to  procure  three  or  four  horses  in  the 
course  of  a  day ;  and  although,  by  the  late  Governor,  Govern- 
ment horses  were  allowed  to  overseers  of  road-gangs,  yet  I 
had  not  the  use  of  any. 

This  and  many  other  privations,  such  as  the  want  of 
quarters  or  a  house  in  any  part  of  the  country,  to  which  other 
persons  in  less  respectable  and  important  situations  were  not 
subjected,  he  ascribes  very  cleverly,  if  not  truly,  to  his  own  lack 
of  insistence  on  getting  them  from  a  humane  Governor.  He 
cites  the  observations  of  a  man  of  "distinguished  fortunes,  uni- 


2  One  at  least  (see  x\ppendix  A,  No.  3)  was  addressed  to  "Mr.  Kirk's, 
Back  Row." 


38  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

versal  benevolence,  mental  endowments,  and  high  rank/'  to  the 
effect  that  he  has  thereby  injured  not  only  himself  but  also  his 
successors,  adding: — 

And  it  is  my  opinion  that  the  present  Government  would 
not  expect  that  any  Chaplain  of  the  Protestant  Church  should 
travel  as  much  as  I  have  been  obliged  to  do  in  the  discharge 
of  my  duties.  Nor  would  it  expect  them  to  procure  horses 
and  other  necessary  modes  of  conveyance,  to  pay  house  rent, 
travelling  and  incidental  expenses  with  a  less  salary  than  their 
£500  per  annum. 

Father  Therry's  was  £100  per  annum.  As  for  the  travelling, 
his  diary  gives  this  programme  for  a  week : 

July  1st. — Sunday — Mass  at  Parramatta  and  Sydney. 

July  2nd. — From   Sydney  to  Parramatta.     Attended  two 

men  in  hospital. 

July   3rd. — In    Parramatta.     Attended    one   man.     Visited 

Factory.   To  Liverpool. 

July  4th. — In  Liverpool.    Baptised  a  black  child.    Went  to 

Bunbury  Curran,  returned  to  Liverpool — to  Parramatta. 

July  5th. — At  Parramatta — Baptised  a  black  child — Visited 

the  Hospital — To  Sydney. 

July  6th. — Mass  at  Sydney  for  subscribers  to  Church — 

Attended  meeting,  &c.    , 

July  7th. — Heard  confessions  at  Dempsey's. 

This  was  a  fair  week's  work ;  but  it  was  only  a  very 
ordinary  week.  The  Catholic  population  of  Sydney  was  abnor- 
mally large,  owing  to  the  large  number  of  Irish  sent  out  for 
political  offences,  many  of  whom  were  now  free  men,  though 
some  were  on  ticket  of  leave,  and  some  still  in  the  chain-gangs. 
It  required  a  very  versatile  man  to  make  his  influence  felt 
among  all  classes  in  the  New  South  Wales  of  that  day.  The 
Catholics,  moreover,  were  of  the  poorest  class,  and  for  the 
missionary  seeking  funds  for  school  and  church  they  could 
do  little  more  than  regretfully  turn  out  empty  pockets.  Even 
at  this  early  date  we  have  a  pile  of  letters  asking  his  assist- 
ance. One  man  is  in  need  of  a  few  pounds  to  bring  out  his 
wife  and  child  from  London;  another  has  the  same  difficulty 
about  his  wife  in  Ireland ;  there  are  pleas  for  the  payment  of 
rent,  for  the  obtaining  of  a  position  for  a  French  tutor,  and 


THE    PASTOR   OF   SOULS  39 

a  large  mass  of  correspondence  from  convicts,  surreptitiously 
delivered,  asking  him  (in  very  bad  English,  and  worse  spelling) 
to  get  them  assigned  to  Catholic  employers.  Their  indigence 
made  him  work  all  the  more  vigorously  on  their  behalf. 
Everyone  appears  to  have  been  answered — and  some  satisfied. 
Bonwick,  the  historian,  gives  an  instance  of  his  zeal.  "Word 
was  brought  to  Father  Therry  that  a  convict  sentenced  to 
execution  desired  to  see  him  for  confession.  Many  miles  had 
to  be  traversed  in  haste,  for  the  time  was  very  short.  The 
season  was  late,  the  roads  were  unformed,  the  floods  had  come 
down,  and  bridgeless  rivers  had  to  be  crossed.  Coming  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  day  to  the  side  of  a  raging  torrent, 
which  his  horse  was  unable  to  enter,  and  on  which  no  boat 
could  live,  the  distressed  priest  shouted  to  a  man  on  the  other 
side  for  help,  in  the  name  of  God  and  a  departing  soul. 
Getting  a  cord  thrown  over  by  means  of  a  stone,  he  drew  up 
a  rope,  tied  it  round  his  body,  leaped  into  the  stream,  and  was 
dragged  through  the  dangerous  passage  by  men  on  the  shore. 
Without  stopping  for  rest  or  change  of  clothing,  the  brave 
man  mounted  another  horse,  and  arrived  in  time  to  bring  the 
consolations  of  religion  to  a  poor  convict." 

Only  a  year  had  elapsed  since  his  coming  to  the  colony, 
and  already  the  pastor  of  souls  was  known  in  all  the  bigger 
centres  of  New  South  Wales.  His  charity  was  unbounded, 
and  remained  such  till  the  end  of  his  life,  often  causing  per- 
plexities to  himself  and  his  friends.  The  people  knew  this, 
and — it  is  one  of  the  most  pleasant  traits  of  his  character — no 
one  was  ever  afraid  to  ask.  Catholic  and  Protestant — and 
there  were  many  of  the  latter — convict  and  free-man,  aborigi- 
nal and  colonist,  often  knocked  upon  the  door  of  Father 
Therry's  house. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

But  are  his  great  desires 
Food  but  for  nether  fires? 

Ah  me. 

A  mystery. 

—Francis  Thompson. 

Father  Therry  was  therefore  face  to  face  with  a  serious 
situation.  His  people  were  of  the  poorest,  and  largely  of  the 
"lower"  class  in  the  social  scale;  he  could  not  expect  much 
assistance  from  them.  He  had  met  with  a  generous  response 
from  the  Protestant  community  to  the  initial  appeal  for  St. 
Mary's.  But  still  more  money  was  required  to  build  the 
church  which  was  now  a  completed  picture  in  his  imagination. 
Nor  was  he  sure  about  the  attitude  of  the  Government.  All 
his  zealous  efforts  had  not  been  taken  in  good  spirit  by  the 
authorities ;  some  of  them  they  had  deliberately  and  unreason- 
ably set  themselves  out  to  oppose.  If  the  past  had  been  diffi- 
cult, the  future  was  far  more  disquieting.  Hitherto  he  had 
had  a  friend  in  high  places.  Commissioner  Bigge,  who  had 
been  sent  out  by  the  Home  Government  to  institute  an  enquiry 
into  the  administration  of  the  colony,  had  evidently  looked 
upon  the  beginnings  of  the  Catholic  Church  with  an  impartial 
approval.  Such  sentiments  we  might  expect,  since  he  was 
appointed  to  make  a  just  statement  of  conditions  as  he  found 
them.  In  him  Father  Therry's  hopes  were  centred.  When 
the  news  of  his  approaching  departure  was  published,  the 
lonely  priest  placed  his  anxieties  before  this  one  superior 
whom  he  could  trust. 

8th  February,  1821. 
Dear  Sir, 

Although  I  can  conscientiously  affirm  that  I  have 
been  not  only  in  the  disposition  but  in  the  habit  of  sacrificing 
my  personal  feelings,  interest,  and  convenience  to  gratify  and 
obey  His  Excellency,  yet  through  misapprehension  he  appears 
to  view  me  in  a  very  different  light;  and  for  this,  and  many 
other  reasons,  I  have  to  apprehend  that  the  obstacles  which 


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BIGGE'S    REPORT  41 

have  been  placed  before  me  (some  of  which  I  think  I  have 
gratefully  to  acknowledge  have  been  removed  by  your  kind  in- 
terference) in  the  discharge  of  my  clerical  positive  duties,  will 
be  increased  when  you  will  have  left  this  country,  and  when 
I  shall  have  no  longer  a  powerful  and  beneficent  protector  to 
look  up  to.  I  therefore,  beg  leave  most  humbly  to  suggest  the 
expediency  of  your  sending  me  forthwith  a  note  merely  to 
direct  or  authorise  me  to  have  the  petition  of  the  Catholics  of 
this  country,  which  you  promised  to  lay  before  His  Majesty's 
Government,  regularly  signed  and  transmitted  to  you,  and  to 
ascertain  for  your  information,  as  nearly  as  possible,  the  ac- 
curate number  of  Catholics  of  this  colony. 

The  Commissioner's  reply  (given  here  in  facsimile)  con- 
tained an  assurance  that  the  Governor  would  not  harass  the 
Catholics  so  long  as  they  obeyed  "those  regulations  that  he  con- 
ceives to  be  absolutely  necessary."  Regarding  the  petition  for 
an  increase  in  the  number  of  Catholic  clergy,  Bigge  suggested 
that  an  accurate  account  of  the  Catholic  community,  signed  by 
the  leading  Catholics,  be  presented  to  Governor  Macquarie,  to 
be  forwarded  to  Earl  Bathurst.  In  the  report  which  he  pre- 
sented in  London  he  still  remained  non-committal.  He  had  no 
suggestions,  but  only  a  statement.    He  reported: — 1 

Since  the  arrival  in  the  colony  of  two  clergymen  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  religion,  the  inhabitants  professing  that  faith 
have  attended  the  celebration  of  Mass,  either  at  the  court- 
house at  Sydney  or  at  the  houses  of  individuals  in  Para- 
matta, Windsor  and  Liverpool.  They  were  required  to  give 
notice  to  the  magistrates  of  the  place  and  hours  of  their  meet- 
ing, with  a  view  to  the  proper  attendance  of  the  convicts ;  but 
as  no  separate  place  had  been  provided  for  the  latter  at  the 
court-house  at  Sydney,  it  was  not  deemed  proper  by  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  48th  regiment  to  allow  those  of  his 
men  who  were  Catholics  to  attend  Mass. 

The  report  furnishes  a  further  reason  for  the  anxiety  of 
Father  Therry  to  provide  a  church.  The  convicts,  by  far  the 
greater  part  of  his  congregation  and  the  most  in  need  of  his 
ministrations,  could  not  be  accommodated  in  the  building  then 
used.    But  the  zealous  priest  was  still  more  troubled  by  the 

1  Colonial  Reports — Bigge,  No.   15,   1823    (136),  p.  69. 


42  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

difference  of  opinion  among  Catholics  themselves  concerning 
the  contemplated  building.  "A  subscription,"  continues  Bigge, 
"was  commenced  by  the  Catholics  in  New  South  Wales,  prior 
to  my  departure,  to  build  a  chapel  at  Sydney,  and  Governor 
Macquarie  had  promised  to  give  them  an  allotment  of  ground 
for  the  purpose.  I  observed,  that  although  some  difference  of 
opinion  arose  amongst  the  Catholics  themselves  respecting  the 
situation  of  the  allotment,  and  the  preference  that  had  been 
given  to  the  town  of  Sydney,  yet  a  very  liberal  disposition  was 
manifested  by  them  to  defray  the  expense  of  the  work,  and 
it  also  met  a  still  more  liberal  encouragement  from  the  higher 
classes  of  the  Protestants."2 

This  reference  to  "the  situation  of  the  allotment"  on  which 
St.  Mary's  Cathedral  was  to  be  built  raises  the  very  interesting 
point — why  was  this  site  chosen  ?  For  a  very  good  reason ;  it 
was  practically  forced  on  the  Catholics  by  the  Government. 
According  to  Father  McEncroe,  speaking  in  1865,  Mr.  Davis 
once  asked  Father  Therry  why  he  had  not  petitioned  for  a 
site  in  the  western  portion  of  Sydney.  Father  Therry  said  he 
had  done  so;  but  a  Catholic  official,  by  name  James  Meehan 
— "Jimmy  Main,"  he  was  called — who  was  Deputy  Surveyor- 
General  at  the  time,  refused  his  application  on  the  ground 
that,  "if  he  built  a  church  there,  he  would  have  all  the 
poor  in  the  city  paraded  before  the  Governor  as  he  was 
going  to  church  at  St.  Phillip's."3  The  position  eventually 
selected  was  rocky,  sloping  and,  at  the  time,  altogether  undesir- 
able, but  it  was  well  out  of  the  Governor's  road — and,  indeed, 
well  out  of  the  city.  It  was  situated  in  a  region  of  "unre- 
claimed bush,  away  from  the  town  proper,  and  in  unpleasant 
proximity  to  the  new  convict  barracks,  a  neighbouring  stock- 
ade, and  the  'cuts'  or  bushways  to  Old  South  Head  Road." 
Catholics  to-day  must  bless  the  chance  that  decided  this  situa- 
tion, as  no  more  desirable  site  in  Sydney  could  be  wished  for. 

In  this  matter  Father  Therry  made  one  colossal  blunder, 
to  rectify  which  necessitated  much  labour  and  years  of  waiting; 

e  Loc.   cit. 

3  McGuanne's  Old  St.  Mary's,  p.  7. 


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FATHER  THERRY'S    SKETCH    ENTITLED   "ROUGH    OUTLINES   OF 
INTENDED  CATHEDRAL" 


To  face  p.    42 


FATHER   THERRY'S    PREVISION  43 

he  took  possession  of  the  land  without  procuring  a  formal  deed 
of  grant.  This  was  not  issued  till  1834,  when  Dr.  Ullathorne's 
timely  arrival  rescued  his  predecessor  from  legal  proceedings 
instituted  because  Father  Therry  was  claiming  and  using  more 
land  than  Government  admitted  it  had  granted. 

The  time  was  at  hand  when  the  dreams  and  hopes  of  the 
pioneer  missionary  were  to  take  concrete  form.  His  letters 
show  that  his  whole  energy  was  centred  on  this  one  work,  the 
building  of  a  church  for  his  people.  As  soon  as  this  symbol 
of  their  faith  was  in  existence,  it  would  be  an  easy  matter 
to  gather  his  flock  around  him.  Ought  the  church  to  be  large 
or  small?  Was  it  more  advisable  to  listen  to  the  advice  of 
those  who  looked  only  to  the  present,  and  build  a  wooden 
structure?  Must  he  stifle  within  himself  the  constant  pre- 
visions of  his  far-seeing  mind,  that  Sydney  would  one  day 
be  a  great  town  ?  The  time  when  there  would  be  a  flourishing 
colony,  with  a  large  Catholic  population,  he  placed  at  no  more 
than  twelve  years'  distance.  Macquarie  had  seen  the  same 
vision;  he,  too,  built  for  the  future;  and  people  criticized  his 
madness.  Twenty  years  later  the  buildings  erected  by  both  of 
them  had  proved  inadequate  to  the  requirements  of  a  grow- 
ing population. 

The  mental  agonies  which  Father  Therry  experienced  must 
have  been  a  heavy  strain  on  his  already  weakened  constitution. 
Among  his  papers  there  are  rough  drafts  of  contemplated 
churches.  One  is  of  a  wooden  structure,  poor  and  mean — 
probably  scribbled  down  under  the  influence  of  some  pessi- 
mistic adviser.  Another  is  the  expression  of  a  happier  mood ; 
it  shows  a  long  high  building,  castellated,  with  Gothic  win- 
dows,4 beautified  by  tracery,  and  a  tall  steeple  rising  from  the 
Centre,  as  if  spurning  the  poverty  of  the  city  it  was  destined 
to  adorn. 

Some  rather  indefinite  plan  was  finally  adopted.  Certainly 
Father  Therry  had  a  large  share  in  suggesting  its  design  ; 
possibly  Macquarie,  or  his  talented  wife,  influenced  its  amazing 
proportions.    Father  Power  in  1827  wrote  that,  although  the 

*  Dr.  Ullathorne  writes  in   1833 :   "there  were  sixty  windows." 


44  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

building  was  far  from  being  completed,  there  was  no  plan 
which  might  be  followed,  nor  was  it  certain  that  there  ever 
was  a  plan.  "I  regret  exceedingly,"  he  writes,  ''I  cannot  find 
any  plan  or  specification  relative  to  the  building;  neither  do  I 
think,  that  any  regular  plan,  at  any  time,  has  been  taken  of  it, 
except  whatever  plan  Mr.  Henry  Cooper,  the  architect,  has  in 
his  possession,  for  it  was  he  who  gave  directions  for  the  plan 
of  roofing,  as  it  stands  now  prepared."  Whether  Henry  Cooper 
was  the  designer  of  the  structure,  or  the  architect  who  super- 
intended its  erection,  cannot  be  determined.  The  architects  who 
advertised  during  the  years  in  which  St.  Mary's  was  built  were 
Mr.  Kitchen  and  Mr.  Greenway.5 

The  poverty  of  the  Catholics  at  that  time  did  not  encourage 
any  hopes  of  financial  aid  from  that  source,  but  Father  Therry 
had  counted  upon  a  Government  moiety  to  assist  his  work. 
The  warm  reception  and  response  that  his  appeal  elicited  from 
the  "more  respectable  and  wealthy  Protestants,"  as  he  terms 
them,  gave  him  further  encouragement.  It  is  pleasant  to  look 
back  upon  this  particular  year,  when  the  Protestant  people 
stretched  forth  a  helping  hand  to  the  less  prosperous  Catholics, 
and  gave  liberal  assistance  out  of  their  comfortable  means. 

This  good  feeling  elicited  a  grateful  pronouncement  from 
Father  Therry: — 

As  John  Thomas  Campbell,  Esq.,  Provost  Marshal,  as 
Treasurer  of  the  fund  for  the  erection  of  a  Catholic  Chapel  in 
Sydney,  had  the  kindness  to  signify  his  intention  publicly  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  different  sums  which  shall  have 
been  subscribed  for  that  purpose,  Rev.  John  J.  Therry  feels 
it  incumbent  on  him,  in  the  first  instance,  to  express,  as  he 
now  respectfully  does,  his  thanks  to  that  gentleman,  for  his 
liberal  donation  of  twenty  pounds,  to  the  said  fund.  He  de- 
rives great  pleasure  from  being  able,  with  truth,  to  assure  him, 
and  the  Protestant  gentlemen  of  this  country  in  general,  that 
the  liberality  recently  manifested  by  them,  in  generously  con- 
tributing to  erect  a  temple  for  the  service  of  the  Living  God, 
according  to  Catholic  forms  of  worship,  has  excited  in  the 
minds  of  his  Catholic  brethren,  gratitude  as  sincere  as  it  is 

•  The  writer  of  a  letter  to  the  Freeman's  Journal  of  June  4,   1864, 
says  "Mr.  Greenway  was  the  architect  of  St.  Mary's." 


LAYING   THE    FOUNDATION    STONE  45 

unutterable.  A  liberality  which  splendidly  evinces,  that  bigotry 
and  intolerance,  have  been  discarded  from  at  least  the  higher 
orders  of  Society,  and  superseded  by  the  benign  spirit  of  uni- 
versal religious  toleration. 

The  work  of  excavation  was  soon  in  hand.  Money  was 
coming  in  from  all  sides.  When  money  could  not  be  given, 
willing  service  took  its  place,  or  donations  were  made  in  kind. 
There  is  still  extant  a  document  in  which  Mr.  John  Ready 


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JOHN  READY'S  CONTRIBUTION  TO  ST.  MARY'S 

promises  to  "give  a  cow  in  calf  as  a  subscription  towards  the 
Catholic  Chapel  at  Sydney."  Mr.  Commissioner  Bigge  had  sent 
his  donation — a  pair  of  valuable  silver  candlesticks.  Govern- 
ment labour  was  granted  for  a  short  time  to  lay  the  foundations 
of  the  Cathedral;  but  in  October,  1821,  Secretary  Goulburn 
informed  Father  Therry  that  Government  labourers  and  a  team 
of  bullocks  could  not  be  spared  for  the  work. 

The  1st  of  November — All  Saints*  Day — had  been  deter- 
mined upon  for  the  laying  of  the  foundation  stone;  but  this 
proved  inconvenient  to  the  Governor,  who  decided  upon  Mon- 
day, 29  October.  It  was  a  gala  day  for  Sydney.  Old  historians 
paint  the  spectacle  in  vivid  colours.  Dr.  Ullathorne  tells  us, 
on  the  evidence  of  eye-witnesses,  that  Father  Therry,  robed 


46 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


in  his  priestly  vestments,  blessed  the   stone;  the   Governor, 
attended  by  his  suite,  received  the  silver  trowel,  and  performed 


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MACQUARIE'S   LETTER   FIXING  THE   DATE   OF 

the  ceremony  whilst  the  priest  continued  the  blessing;' 

6  His  Grace  Archbishop  Kelly  made  an  interesting  discovery  in  1915. 
Whilst  watching  the  building  of  the  additions  to  St.  Mary's,  he 
noticed,  embedded  in  the  new  wall,  a  stone  which  bore  these  words : 
"Rev.  Joa.  J ecclesiae  conditor " — a  strange  coin- 
cidence, connecting  the  first  parish  priest  of  Sydney  with  its  present 
Archbishop. 


;6  and 


EXCHANGE    OF    COURTESIES  47 

the  choir  responded  from  a  tent  near  by.  The  trowel,  designed 
by  Mr.  Clayton,  bore  the  inscription : 

This  trowel  was  presented  by  the  Catholics  of  New  South 
Wales,  to  Major-General  Lachlan  Macquarie,  Governor  in 
Chief,  &c,  &c,  on  the  auspicious  occasion  of  his  laying  the 
foundation  stone  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church. 

An  altar-boy  who  was  present  on  that  occasion  gave  Dean 
Kenny  further  details.  "The  Governor  wiped  the  trowel  with 
his  own  handkerchief,  and  put  the  trowel  in  his  bosom,  say- 
ing, 'You  must  know,  Mr.  Therry,  that,  although  I  never  laid 
the  first  stone  of  a  Catholic  church  before,  I  am  a  very  old 
Mason ;  and  I  shall  keep  this  trowel  as  long  as  I  live,  in 
remembrance  of  this  day,  and  I  wish  you  and  your  flock  every 
success  in  your  pious  undertaking.'  "7 

The  Sydney  Gazette*  in  its  account  of  the  ceremony  repro- 
duces the  flattering  address  of  Father  Therry,  and  the  Gover- 
nor's reply.  These  are  well  worth  quoting,  for  they  breathe 
an  atmosphere  of  dignified  courtesy,  such  as  was  still  in  vogue 
in  England,  and  are  evidence  that  it  had  accompanied  the 
higher  classes  to  the  convict  settlements  of  New  Holland. 
Father  Therry  presented  the  following  address : — 

In  presenting  to  your  Excellency  this  humble  instrument 
(which,  undervalued  as  it  may  be  by  the  supercilious  and  the 
unscientific,  will  not  be  contemned  by  any  who  have  studied 
and  patronized,  as  your  Excellency  has  done,  the  sciences  and 
useful  arts),  we,  the  Catholics  of  this  colony,  cannot  refrain 
on  such  an  auspicious  occasion  from  expressing  our  most  sin- 
cere and  heartfelt  gratitude  to  your  Excellency  for  having 
deigned  to  honor  us  by  personally  laying  the  first  stone  of 
the  first  Roman  Catholic  chapel  attempted  to  be  erected  in  this 
territory. 

As  a  worthy  representative  of  a  benevolent  king,  you,  by 
this  act  of  condescension,  give  an  illustrious  example,  which 
will  prove  to  be  not  less  beneficial  to  society  than  meritorious 
to  your  Excellency.  You  will  have  the  merit  of  laying  the 
firm  foundation  of  a  moral  edifice  of  unanimity,  mutual  con- 

T  Kenny,  Progress  of  Catholicity,  p.  41. 
8  Nov.  3,  1821. 


48  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

fidence  and  fraternal  love,  and  of  more  strongly  cementing 
the  respect  and  affection  of  all  persuasions  and  parties  in  this 
country  to  our  sovereign,  to  yourself  and,  to  each  other. 
He  then  promised  that  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary's  neither  the 
name  nor  the  virtues  of  His  Excellency  should  at  any  time  be 
forgotten. 

Macquarie's  reply  is  evidence  of  his  good  feeling: — 

Reverend  Sir, 

I  receive  from  your  hands  with  much  pleasure 
in  your  own  name  and  that  of  your  Roman  Catholic  brethren 
of  New  South  Wales,  the  very  handsome  silver  trowel  now 
presented  to  me ;  and  I  feel  myself  very  much  honored  in  hav- 
ing been  thus  selected  to  make  use  of  this  instrument  in  laying 
the  first  stone  of  the  first  Roman  Catholic  chapel  attempted 
to  be  erected  in  Australia.  The  sentiments  you  have  addressed 
to  me  are  congenial  with  my  own,  in  the  beneficial  result  to 
be  derived  from  the  erection  of  the  proposed  edifice.  It  has 
been  a  great  gratification  to  me  to  witness  and  assist  at  the 
ceremony  now  performed,  and  I  have  every  hope  that  the 
consideration  of  the  British  Government  in  supplying  the 
Roman  Catholics  of  this  colony  with  established  clergymen 
will  be  the  means  of  strengthening  and  augmenting  (if  that 
be  possible)  the  attachment  of  the  Catholics  of  New  South 
Wales  to  the  British  Government,  and  will  prove  an  induce- 
ment to  them  to  continue — as  I  have  ever  found  them — 
to  be  loyal  and  faithful  subjects  to  the  Crown.  I  beg  you 
will  accept  of  my  best  acknowledgments  for  the  sentiments 
of  friendly  regard  and  kind  good  wishes  you  have  been  pleased 
to  express  for  myself  and  my  family. 

Lachlan   Macquarie, 
Governor-in-Chief  of  New  South  Wales. 

To  the  Rev.  John  Joseph  Therry  and  the  Roman  Catholics 
of  New  South  Wales.9 

This  reply  of  the  Governor  (which  he  afterwards  gave 
Father  Therry  for  publication10)  shows  his  true  feelings  re- 
garding the  Catholic  community.  His  earlier  official  intoler- 
ance was  completely  overshadowed  by  these  generous  words  of 
encouragement,  and  by  his  practical  support  (he  had  sent  two 
donations,  making  together  twenty  guineas).    But  the  greatest 

9  Sydney  Gazette,  as  above. 
10  See  Appendix  A,  No.  5. 


MACQUARIE'S    DEPARTURE  49 

effect  of  his  generous  sympathy  was  that  it  induced  the  public 
to  follow  his  example. 

A  list  of  donors  was  published  in  the  Sydney  Gazette  of  r 
December,  1821.  It  includes  the  names  of  many  even  then  in 
high  positions,  who  have  since  become  famous.  A  few 
names  merit  recording: — Governor  Macquarie,  £21;  Lieut.- 
Gov.  Erskine,  £5  ;  Frederick  Goulburn,  Colonial  Secretary,  £20 ; 
John  T.  Campbell,  Provost  Marshal,  £20;  Sir  John  Jamison, 
£10;  Justice  Field,  £5;  John  Piper,  £10;  D'Arcy  Wentworth, 
£10;  Major  Druitt,  Edward  Wollstonecraft,  John  Oxley  (Sur- 
veyor General),  Fred  Drennan,  £5  each;  Mr.  William  Davis, 
£50 ;  Mrs.  Catherine  Davis,  £50.  The  whole  collection  amounted 
by  December  1  to  £638  12s.  6d. 

Whatever  Macquarie's  intentions  were  for  Catholic  welfare, 
he  had  but  little  opportunity  to  put  them  into  execution,  being 
succeeded  at  the  end  of  182 1  by  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane.  Thus 
ended  a  governorship  that  had  played  an  important  part  in  the 
foundation  of  the  Church  in  Australia.  Macquarie  had  de- 
ported Father  O'Flynn  from  Sydney;  he  had  imposed  condi- 
tions on  the  Catholic  chaplains  that  tended  to  nullify  their 
work ;  he  had — nor  was  it  altered  when  he  left — forbidden  any 
communication  between  the  orphan  children  and  their  priest. 
But  when  his  term  of  office  was  drawing  to  a  close,  he  softened. 
With  evident  honesty,  he  wished  well  to  Catholic  undertakings 
at  St.  Mary's ;  and  he  sent  from  on  board  the  vessel  by  which 
he  left  Australia  a  message  to  the  church  he  had  harassed : — 

Ship, 

Port  Jackson, 

15  Feb.  1822. 
Rev.  Sir, 

I  have  been  favoured  with  your  letter.  I  shall  not 
fail  to  move  Earl  Bathurst  on  my  arrival  in  England,  to  in- 
struct Sir  Thos.  Brisbane,  to  extend  some  further  assistance 
towards  completing  the  Roman  Catholic  chapel  at  Sydney. 

L.    Macquarie. 
The  result  of  Macquarie's  exertions  in  England  were  soon 
evident.     The    Colonial    Secretary,   in    reply   to    a    Memorial 
(signed  by  a  judge  and  twenty-six  magistrates)   asking  for 


50  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

assistance  to  St.  Mary's,  wrote  that  "in  any  list  that  may  be 
opened,  I  am  directed  by  the  Governor  to  enter  the  name  of 
the  Government  for  a  sum  equal  to  the  sum  total  of  all  such 
additional  donations." 

This  promise  was  not  acted  upon  immediately.  Up  to 
December  4,  1822,  £1,276  18s.  4d.  had  been  expended,  and 
£1,183  5s-  3d-  collected.  In  August,  1824,  £2,602  had  been 
collected,  and  the  Government  promise  still  remained  unful- 
filled. After  this,  for  the  first  time,  the  pound  for  pound 
subsidy  was  given;  but  it  was  withdrawn  in  1827. 

The  years  1822  and  1823  were  years  of  embarrassment  and 
trouble  for  the  zealous  missionary.  He  was  alone  in  a  vast 
country,  whose  population  was  scattered  far  and  wide.  The 
Catholic  population  about  this  time  was  computed  at  10,000 
souls,  making  one-third  of  the  community;  but  none  of  them 
was  in  the  higher  social  grade,  and  only  a  few,  such  as  Messrs. 
Davis  and  Meehan,  were  comfortably  settled  in  life.  From 
these  struggling  colonists  donations  for  the  new  church  came 
slowly,  and  when  they  did  come  were  of  small  avail.  Many 
references  in  the  Therry  papers  bear  witness  to  widespread 
endeavours  to  augment  the  building  fund.  One  man  informs 
Father  Therry  of  the  amount  he  had  collected  in  India;  and 
many  letters  to  and  from  the  Dutch  Governor  of  Batavia 
show  that  St.  Mary's  was  more  than  a  local  product.  Yet 
with  all  this  zeal  money  could  not  be  found  to  meet  the  debts 
incurred  and  to  keep  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  work. 

Once  again  the  old  cry  was  raised  by  some  who  had  pro- 
phesied this  result.  Why  did  he  not  build  in  wood  ?  Why  did 
he  build  so  large  a  church  for  so  poor  a  people  ?  The  Colonial 
Architect,  smiling  at  the  dimensions  of  the  contemplated  build- 
ing, said  that  such  a  structure  would  not  be  required  for  a 
hundred  years.  Some,  however,  remembered  that  a  Government 
subsidy  had  been  promised,  and  never  paid. 

It  might  be  thought,  judging  only  from  the  letters  and 
documents  quoted  in  this  chapter,  that  Father  Therry's  path 
was  being  made  smooth  by  the  favour  of  Government  officials. 
In  the  early  days  of  the  building  of  St.  Mary's  this  was  more 


FATHER    THERRY    RESIGNS  51 

or  less  true ;  but  the  old-time  antagonism  to  Catholics  was  not 
yet  dead.  There  was  as  yet  no  Catholic  citizen  influential 
enough  to  push  Catholic  claims.  And  Father  Therry  had 
pushed  these  claims  so  frequently  that  he  had  made  himself  a 
cause  of  distraction  to  a  vacillating  Government.  If  he  applied 
for  carpenters  to  Government,  they  sent  him  weavers;  if  he 
asked  to  see  his  children  in  the  orphan  school,  he  was  told 
that  it  was  a  Church  of  England  Institution,  and  that  the  in- 
mates took  on  the  character  of  the  institution  in  which  they 
lived;  if  he  asked  for  Government  assistance  for  the  church, 
he  was  put  off  with  liberal  promises — which  remained  pro- 
mises. 

He  was  essentially  a  worker.  He  could  not  sit  down  and 
wait.  It  would  have  been  wiser  had  he  used  more  diplomacy 
with  Government.  But  tact  was  not  a  marked  qualification  of 
his.  If  Government  did  not  grant  what  was  just,  or  even 
necessary,  he  told  it  so  in  bald,  blunt  language  that  provoked 
antagonism  rather  than  sympathy.  Nor  was  it  only  his  personal 
troubles  over  pensions,  salaries,  money  for  St.  Mary's,  schools, 
and  such  general  necessities,  that  called  for  his  attention.  If 
a  poor  convict  at  Parramatta  was  unjustly  punished,  he  sent 
for  Father  Therry — and  Father  Therry  castigated  the  injustice 
of  the  officials.  He  was  fighting  the  battles  of  his  people, 
single-handed,  against  a  powerful  Government. 

He  must  have  realized  that  his  energetic  criticism  and  fre- 
quent demands  had  reacted  badly  upon  the  welfare  of  the 
Catholic  Church  in  Sydney.  He  began  to  think  that  his  life's 
work  had  failed — that  a  more  competent  missionary  was  re- 
quired. He  made  a  candid  statement  of  his  difficulties  to 
Bishop  Slater,  and  proffered  his  resignation,  if  the  Bishop 
thought  it  advisable.  Of  course  the  Bishop  did  not  think  so, 
and  addressed  to  him  from  Port  Louis,  on  October  2,  1822, 
some  words  of  commendation  and  necessary  advice: — 

Rev.  Sir, 

Very  long  after  its  date,  I  received  yours  of 
March  last.  The  ship  which  takes  this,  sails  at  too  short  a 
notice  for  me  to  answer  you  in  detail,  but  I  feel  great  pleasure 


52  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

in  observing  that  there  is  much  in  your  letter  and  in  your  con- 
duct, which  claims  my  warmest  approbation. 

That  everything,  which  is  intended  to  secure  future  gen- 
erations, should  in  its  first  origin,  be  laid  on  an  extended 
foundation,  has  at  all  times,  been  the  opinion  of  wise  men, 
provided  the  early  means  be  adequate  to  the  purposes  of  extent 
and  firmness.  I  would  rather  you  should  be  three  years  in 
building  a  commodious  chapel,  offering  a  respectable  and  in- 
viting front  to  the  public,  than  see  your  first  means  exhausted 
on  one  that  must  afterwards  be  destroyed,  to  make  place  for 
another  better  adapted  to  the  wants  of  a  rapidly  increasing 
congregation.  I  am  pleased  too,  with  the  wish  you  express  to 
establish  as  much  as  possible,  schools  in  the  different  towns 
and  divisions  of  the  colony.  But,  you  must  remember  that 
an  ardent  head  will  always  form  plans  more  rapidly,  than 
the  most  active  hand  can  execute  them,  particularly  when  the 
kindly  affections  of  the  heart,  are  in  union  with  the  wishes 
of  the  head.  Suggest  the  idea  to  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
each  district;  commence  real  subscriptions,  they  will  tend  to 
form  a  capital ;  and  when  you  see  that  your  means  are  sufficient 
to  justify  a  hope  that  you  can  go  on — begin.  Your  schoolrooms 
may  serve  on  Sundays  for  the  performance  of  Divine  Service, 
and  whenever  you  are  rich  enough  to  erect  a  building  for 
that  particular  purpose,  do  it  on  such  a  plan,  that  the  con- 
struction may  afterwards  form  a  portion  of  the  chapel  your 
future  means  may  enable  you  to  complete.  I  shall  be  exceed- 
ingly happy  to  see  the  number  of  the  labourers  increased  by 
any  means,  but  if  you  quit  the  vineyard,  who  will  cultivate  the 
portions  committed  to  your  care  ?  I  have  the  prospect  of  rais- 
ing a  seminary  here,  and  if  you  have  any  young  men,  who  are 
promising  subjects,  you  may  send  them  hither.  Continue,  I 
entreat  you,  a  yielding  disposition.  It  is  necessary,  that  fellow 
labourers  in  the  vineyard  of  Christ  should  live  together  as 
brothers,  but  a  superiority  must  exist,  and  the  claims  of  prior 
appointment  and  more  advanced  age,  should  in  the  first  instance 
have  obviated  any  appeal.  I  trust  in  the  Lord,  the  first  diffi- 
culties got  over,  you  will  have  no  future  subject  of  differ- 
ence. You  should  have  sent  me  a  copy  of  your  catechism  for 
approbation.  Be  exceedingly  cautious  in  baptizing  the  child- 
ren of  the  indigenous  inhabitants  of  the  country.  You  must 
not  forget  that  no  baptism  can  be  given  except  in  the  immediate 
proximity  of  death,  without  a  credible  voucher,  that  the  prom- 
ises required,  in  the  administration  of  the  Sacraments,  will  be 
faithfully  executed.     Mixed  marriages  have  always  been  con- 


BISHOP    SLATER'S    REPLY  53 

demned  in  the  Church,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  its  ministers  to 
lend  themselves  on  such  occasions  with  very  great  caution. 
The  instrument  of  publications  of  banns  may  be  affixed  on  the 
door  of  a  building  used  as  a  chapel,  when  Mass  is  not  cele- 
brated in  the  district.  When  a  marriage  is  intended  to  be  con- 
tracted, you  must  consider  the  discipline  of  the  Council  of 
Trent,  as  in  full  force  in  the  whole  of  New  South  Wales  and 
Van  Diemen's  Land.  Allow  me,  my  dear  sir,  to  recommend 
to  your  frequent  perusal,  the  Catechism  of  that  Council,  and 
the  Canons  and  Doctrinal  Chapters  of  that  Council,  as  the 
most  useful  book  a  clergyman  can  read.  I  perceive,  that  I 
have  written  to  you  more  at  length  than  I  thought  my  time 
would  allow.  Receive  my  thanks  for  the  good  you  have  done, 
continue  with  zeal  in  the  land  committed  to  your  care.  Remem- 
ber that  charity,  soft,  indulgent,  forbearing  charity,  is  the 
spirit  which  animates  a  faithful  servant  of  Christ,  which  se- 
cures to  his  own  soul  peace,  whilst  it  administers  hope  and 
consolation  to  others,  and  gives  him  on  earth  a  foretaste  of  the 
happiness  which  awaits  him  in  Heaven.  May  the  Lord  have 
you  in  His  holy  keeping. 

►J<  Edward  Ep.  Rusp. 

The  Bishop's  summing  up  of  Father  Therry's  difficulties 
is  as  capable  a  piece  of  work  as  the  solutions  he  proposed. 
How  true  to  type  was  the  ardent  head,  forming  plans  more 
rapidly  than  the  most  active  hand  could  execute!  Father 
Conolly  was  still  the  superior  of  the  mission.  Though  he  was 
no  longer  in  Sydney,  and  had  done  nothing  to  merit  obedience 
and  respect  from  Father  Therry,  yet  his  first  appointment  still 
held  good.  Father  Therry,  who  had  borne  all  the  heat  and 
burden  of  the  day,  must  still  remain  subject  to  an  authority 
with  whom  he  had  little  but  his  Priesthood  in  common.  The 
good  Bishop  saw  the  necessity  of  the  curbing  powers  of 
obedience  and  humility  to  fortify  the  ever  zealous  missionary 
of  New  Holland. 

The  possibility  of  Father  Therry's  retirement,  of  his  incapa- 
citation by  ill-health — even  of  his  death — must  have  been  a 
serious  consideration  for  the  Bishop.  "If  you  quit  the  vineyard, 
who  will  cultivate  the  portions  committed  to  your  care?"  No 
more  cogent  argument  could  have  been  devised  for  the  waver- 
ing missionary.    Come  what  may — threats  of  Governments, 


54  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

bigotry,  death — he  must  stay  with  his  people.  And,  because  he 
must,  he  took  heart.  Resuscitated  by  the  confidence  and  hope 
begotten  of  necessity,  he  remained  at  his  post — willingly. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Ye,  who  your  Lord's  commission  bear, 

Think  not  of  rest;  though  dreams  be  sweet, 

Stand  up,  and  ply  your  heaven-ward  feet. 

Is  not  God's  oath  upon  your  head, 

Ne'er  to  sink  back  on  slothful  bed, 

Never  again  your  loins  untie, 

Nor  let  your  torches  waste  and  die, 

Till,  when  the  shadows  thickest  fall. 

Ye  hear  your  Master's  midnight  call? 

— Keble. 

Father  Therry  never  again  thought  of  forsaking  the  Aus- 
tralian Mission.  He  did  at  one  time  suggest  leaving  his  post 
for  a  few  months,  but  only  to  bring  more  priests  to  assist  him. 
His  surroundings  had  not  been  made  more  pleasant  by  Gov- 
ernment; and  the  conditions  of  his  existence  had  suffered  no 
alteration,  other  than  the  addition  of  more  work,  more  towns 
to  visit,  and  a  growing  population  to  claim  his  services.  In 
1823  the  population  of  the  colony  was  29,783 ;  of  these  13,814 
were  prisoners.    About  one-third  of  all  were  Catholics. 

If  Sydney  only  had  required  his  services,  he  would  have 
found  more  than  sufficient  to  occupy  the  long  hours  of  his 
day.  There  was  the  hospital,  filled  to  overflowing  with  all  the 
diseases  prevalent  in  an  ill-equipped  and  insanitary  penal 
settlement.1  There  were  schools  to  be  built,  and  children  to 
be  educated  both  in  spiritual  and  temporal  matters.  There  were 
gaols  to  be  attended,  both  of  women  and  men,  in  Parramatta 
and  Sydney.  The  road-gangs  also  needed  his  attention.  There 
were  the  hasty  departures,  and  rides  through  forest  and  over 
mountains,  to  attend  a  dying  Catholic,  perhaps  in  Wollongong 

1  In  1820  an  "epidemic  catarrh"  (which  was  undoubtedly  influenza) 
swept  the  country,  recurring  in  1825.  In  1824  epidemic  mumps  laid 
low  a  large  number  of  people,  and  in  1825  intermittent  fever  first  ap- 
peared (Watson's  History  of  the  Sydney  Hospital,  p.  65).  Any  priest 
to-day  can  form  a  good  idea  how  constant  must  have  been  the  atten- 
tion, on  the  part  of  a  conscientious  and  energetic  missionary,  neces- 
sitated by  such  conditions. 

55 


56  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

or  Goulburn,  or  elsewhere  in  the  interior.  Each  rising  settle- 
ment must  be  made  a  station  where  the  Catholics  might  hear 
Mass  occasionally. 

A  page  from  the  incomplete  diary  for  1824  will  give  a 
better  insight  into  such  labours  than  any  description  of  ours 
can  hope  to  give : — 

Nov.     8th— Left  Sydney. 

Nov.     9th — Left   Liverpool   at   7   o'clock   a.m.;   arrived 
at  Airds ;  Mass  at  Mr.  Ward's  pro  omnibus. 
Nov.  10th — Mass  at  Mr.  Galvin's,  Cow  Pastures;  bap- 
tised a  child ;  received  a  person  into  the  church ;  supplied 
ceremonies  of  baptism. 

Nov.  nth — Mass  at  Mrs.  Kenny's,  Airds;  received  £1  for 
chapel ;  received  two  persons  into  the  church ;  proceeded 
to  Liverpool ;  heard  of  a  man  who  died  at  hospital,  and 
was  attended. 

Nov.  12th — Left  Liverpool  at  12  p.m.,2  arrived  in  Sydney 
3  a.m.,  to  hear  the  confession  of  Mrs.  Williams — saw  a 
poor  man  in  gaol. 

Nov.  1 6th — Attended  John  ,  Philip  ,  who  were 

executed  this  day,  one  for  killing  and  stealing  a  cow,  and 
the  other  for  having  robbed  a  man  on  the  highway  of  a 
bottle  of  rum. 

Nov.  17th — Sydney;  left  it  6  a.m.  for  Mass  at  Parra- 
matta. 

Although  the  new  Governor,  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane,  was  a 
good  friend  to  Catholics,  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  grant  as 
much  as  he  would  have  wished,  and  as  much  as  justice  de- 
manded. The  rebuke  (so  often  quoted)  which  he  administered 
to  the  Presbyterians  who  claimed  State  aid  shows  that  he  had 
a  deep  appreciation  of  the  Catholic  missionary's  worth.  We  do 
not  know,  of  course,  whether  the  Presbyterians  deserved  such 
a  rebuff;  and  we  cannot  blame  them  for  desiring  a  privilege 
already  promised  to  Catholics,  and  partially  fulfilled;  but  we 
must  welcome  Brisbane's  opinion  of  Father  Therry.  "When 
you,"  the  Governor  wrote  to  the  petitioners,  "in  the  choice  of 
your  teachers,  shall  have  discovered  a  judgment  equal  to  that 
which  presided  at  the  selection  of  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy- 
men to  instruct  the  people  to  fear  God  and  honour  the  King, 

'  From  a  later  letter  it  is  learned  that  he  meant  "midnight." 


OFFICIAL    SALARIES 


57 


then  only  will  you  get  countenance  and  support  from  the 
Colonial  Government."3  Unfortunately  for  Catholic  prosper- 
ity, Brisbane's  stay  in  Australia  was  too  short  to  remove  the 
burdens  and  hardships  that  almost  crushed  Father  Therry  to 
the  earth. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that,  when  the  two  priests 
were  about  to  leave  Ireland,  Earl  Bathurst  justified  the  meagre 
salary  allowed  them  on  the  plea  that  Catholics  were  usually 
more  generous  to  their  clergy  than  other  people  were  to  their 
ministers.  This  may  have  been  the  case ;  but,  considering  the 
large  sums  then  voted  to  the  many  Protestant  clergy — as 
well  as  their  glebe  lands  and  residences — it  is  astounding  that 
public  opinion  should  not  have  demanded  an  equitable  pension 
for  the  one  priest  in  the  colony.  In  December,  182 1,  Macquarie 
prepared  an  Official  Return  of  "Persons  holding  civil  and  mili- 
tary employment,  to  which  salaries  are  attached,"  from  which 
the  following  is  an  extract: — 4 


Annual  salaries  paid 

Names 

Nature  of 
Appointment 

By  whom 
Appointed 

from 

Total 

Treasury 

Police 
Fund 

Rev. 

Sam'l    Marsden 

Principal 
Chaplain 

His 
Majesty 

£350 

£350 

» 

Wm.  Cowper  . . 

Senr.Asst. 
Chaplain 

do. 

£260 

£260 

» 

Hy.    Fulton 

Assistant 
Chaplain 

do. 

£l82-I0 

£l82-IO 

»> 

Robt.  Cartwright 

do. 

do. 

£240 

£240 

„ 

Richd.   Hill     .. 

do. 

do. 

£250 

£250 

>» 

John   Cross 

do. 

do. 

£250 

£250 

» 

G.  A.  Middleton 

do. 

do. 

£250 

£250 

>> 

Thos.  Reddall.. 

do. 
Roman 

do. 

£250 

£250 

>> 

John  Therry   .. 

Catholic 
Priest 

do. 

£lOO 

£lOO 

" 

Philip  Connelly 

do. 

do. 

£lOO 

£lOO 

3  Dr.  Lang's  comment  on  this  is  worth  recalling:— "Sir  Thomas 
Brisbane  .  .  .  himself  a  Scotchman  and  a  Presbyterian  .  .  .  unfortunately 
suffered  himself  in  that,  as  in  many  other  instances,  to  be  governed 
by  the  gentleman  who  was  then  Colonial  Secretary,  and  who  persuaded 
His  Excellency,  contrary  to  the  uniform  tenour  of  his  own  experience 
and  observation,  that  Scots  Presbyterians  were  a  factious  and  dangerous 
people  whom  it  was  impolitic  to  encourage."  Historical  Account  of 
NSW.    (first  edition),   11.,  255. 

4  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  x.,  579. 


58  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Therefore  in  182 1  eight  well-salaried  ministers,  favoured 
with  Government  approval — some  of  them  magistrates  and 
holders  of  plural  benefices,  with  rich  and  fertile  farms  to  ren- 
der them  more  comfortable — ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  Anglican  people,  who  were  not  much  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  population.  The  other  Protestant  forms  of  worship 
had  ministers  whose  livelihood  was  of  necessity  gained  in  many- 
other  forms  of  work  besides  that  of  the  church.  The  Catho- 
lics, more  than  one-third  of  the  entire  population,  had  only 
one  priest — Father  Conolly  being  in  Van  Diemen's  Land — who 
received  from  the  Government  £100  per  annum,  as  against  the 
Anglicans'  £2000  odd.  In  1824  Earl  Bathurst  notified  his 
pleasure  in  increasing  the  annual  stipends  of  the  Anglican 
clergy ;  in  future  the  following  salaries  were  to  be  given5 : — 

The  Rev.   S.   Marsden  . .     £400  per  annum. 

The  Rev.  W.  Cowper  . .     £300  per  annum. 

The  Rev.  R.  Cartwright         . .     £300  per  annum. 

The  Rev.  H.  Fulton  . .     £250  per  annum. 

And  about  this  time  Father  Therry's  £100  was  withdrawn 
altogether.  A  few  years  later  the  favour  bestowed  on  the 
Church  of  England — allotting  one-seventh  of  the  colony  for 
its  upkeep — was  found  to  be  so  amazing  and  so  impracticable 
that  it  was  withdrawn. 

A  letter  written  by  Father  Therry  in  1823  reveals  the  lax 
business  methods  of  the  times.  "Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  having  had 
the  disadvantage  of  receiving  his  salary  of  nine  months,  termi- 
nating on  the  30th  June  last,  in  dollars  at  5/-  each  conformably 
to  the  Government  order,  begs  leave  most  respectfully  to 
enquire  of  Major  Goulburn,  if  the  late  General  Order  regulat- 
ing the  currency  will  be  allowed  also  to  have  a  retrospective 
effect  with  regard  to  his  salary,  now  due,  of  six  months,  end- 
ing the  31st  December."  And  a  letter6  from  a  business  man, 
whose  advice  Father  Therry  had  sought,  advises  him  to  keep 
his  salary  till  the  money  market  becomes  brighter. 

5  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xi.,  371. 

*  This  letter  is  one  of  many  of  this  year  addressed  to  75  Pitt  Street. 
Father  Therry  was  probably  living  in  the  first  temporary  chapel,  which 
had  once  been  the  property  of  John  Reddington. 


BUILDING    DIFFICULTIES  39 

The  building  of  St.  Mary's  was  becoming  every  day  a 
heavier,  almost  an  impossible,  burden.  Accounts  of  1824  show 
an  average  weekly  expenditure  of  about  £30,  and  the  amount 
of  the  foundation  subscriptions  was  soon  exhausted.  In 
November,  1824,  he  wrote: — "St.  Mary's  Chapel  in  this  town 
will  be,  when  completed,  an  elegant,  if  not  a  magnificent, 
building.  It  still  requires  about  three  thousand  guineas  to 
complete  it.  Sir  Thos.  Brisbane,  our  excellent  Governor,  sent 
me  the  other  day  £200  as  a  donation  to  the  funds,  but  I  ex- 
pect from  Government  at  least  seven  times  that  sum."  At  last 
he  tried  to  bargain  with  the  Government  for  help  in  the  build- 
ing in  return  for  the  use  of  a  portion  of  it : — 

I  beg  leave  to  submit  for  the  Governor's  consideration,  that 
the  quantity  of  men,  oxen,  timber  and  timber  carriages,  the  pre- 
sent temporary  depression  of  the  revenue,  and  the  great  diffi- 
culty I  have  in  procuring  mechanics,  render  it  highly  desirable 
that  His  Excellency,  instead  of  ordering  us  the  money  which 
he  has  been  pleased  graciously  to  promise,  would  direct  the 
chapel  to  be  taken  under  immediate  control  of  Government, 
until  the  roof  be  completed,  or  until  the  amount  in  labour  and 
material  be  expended. 

I  beg  also,  to  submit  that  in  order  to  obviate  the  serious 
disadvantage  to  which  we  were  subjected  by  being  necessitated 
to  erect  the  church  on  a  low  site  and  a  very  uneven  surface,  I 
caused  the  plan  of  it  to  admit  of  a  subterranean  store,  about 
nine  feet  in  height,  and  which  will  enclose  an  area  of  more 
than  six  thousand  square  feet.  And  as  this  store,  which  can  be 
made  perfectly  dry,  is  not  likely  to  be  of  any  benefit  to  the 
chapel  for  a  great  number  of  years,  and  as  it  may  be  a  con- 
venience to  Government  to  have  it  constantly  in  acquisition,  I 
solicit  His  Excellency  to  order  it  to  be  floored  and  ceiled  in 
whatever  manner  may  be  considered  most  useful ;  and  then  to 
be  retained  for  the  public  service  as  many  years  as  shall  be 
deemed  fully  to  indemnify  Government  for  the  additional 
expense. 

The  attempt  to  force  the  Government  into  concrete  fulfil- 
ment of  its  promises  was  too  evident  to  be  successful.  "The 
chief  engineer  advises,"  the  Colonial  Secretary  replied,  "that 
not  one  of  the  proposals  your  letter  contains  can  be  acceded 


60  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

to."    The  promise  of  further  assistance  was  still  a  promise, 
and  would  remain  such. 

The  necessity  for  additional  priests  provoked  a  letter  to 
Governor  Brisbane,  asking  him  in  God's  name  to  use  his  in- 
fluence with  the  Home  Government.  This  resulted  in  a  naive 
letter  from  the  Governor  to  Earl  Bathurst7 : — 

Altho'  I  am  no  advocate  for  the  tenets  or  doctrines  of  the 
Church  of  Rome,  still  I  consider  that,  in  proportion  as  Roman 
Catholics  increase,  priests  should  be  sent,  as  it  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  of  which  perhaps  your  Lordship  cannot  be  aware,  that 
every  murder  or  diabolical  crime,  which  has  been  committed 
in  the  colony  since  my  arrival,  has  been  perpetrated  by 
Roman  Catholics.  And  this  I  ascribe  entirely  to  their  bar- 
barous ignorance  and  total  want  of  education,  the  invariable 
companions  of  bigotry  and  cruelty,  as  well  as  the  parent  of 
crime. 

"Had  there  never  been  a  priest  here,  perhaps  the  Roman 
Catholic  Worship  might  have  dwindled  away  or  become 
ingrafted  with  the  Protestant. 

We  must  thank  the  honest  old  Governor  for  that  last  sen- 
tence. At  the  Last  Judgment  it  will  be  worthy  of  repetition  by 
angelic  voices,  in  the  cause  of  the  eternal  beatitude  of  the 
apostle  of  Australia.  It  is  doubtful  whether  the  Catholics  of 
early  Sydney  would  have  drifted,  as  Brisbane  thought,  into 
Protestantism.  Their  faith,  burned  deep  into  them  by  the  fiery 
persecution  of  '98,  was  too  virile  ever  to  be  forgotten.  The 
Governor  found  them  ignorant;  he  knew  the  cause  of  their 
ignorance.  His  statement  that  every  diabolical  crime  or  mur- 
der had  been  committed  by  Catholics  is  wide  of  the  mark. 
Before  us,  as  we  write,  are  letters  referring  to  three  convicts8 
who  were  hanged  for  offences  then  capital,  some  of  them  com- 
mitted under  Brisbane's  regime.  They  died  Catholics.  But  the 
whole  of  their  lives,  excepting  the  last  few  hours,  were  lived 
in  at  least  nominal  observance  of  Protestantism.  Many  another 
so-called  "Catholic  criminal"  was  hanged  for  stealing  a  cow 
or  such  minor  offences ;  and  often  cruelty,  starvation,  or  pros- 
elytism  was  the  cause  of  their  fall. 

7  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xiM  382. 

8  See  Appendix  A,  Nos.  9,  11,  12. 


&%zM/  QJm^    waJz&^a4> 


DESIGN  FOR  OLD  ST.  MARY'S 
(From  an  engraving  by  R.  Ransome  in  the  Dixson  Collection,  Sydney) 


To  face  p.   60 


BRISBANE'S   PROPOSALS  61 

Nevertheless  the  Governor  puts  forward  the  Catholic 
claims.  He  speaks  with  the  intolerance  common  in  England 
before  Emancipation  days,  in  ignorance  of  all  Catholic  doc- 
trine and  teachings,  and  in  the  tone  in  which  a  powerful  master 
might  ask  a  trifling  favour  for  an  insignificant  servant  labour- 
ing under  a  grievance.  Their  lack  of  education,  he  writes, 
has  left  them  "benighted  and  bereft  of  every  advantage  that 
can  adorn  the  mind  of  man,  or  characterize  the  European 
from  the  aboriginese,  there  will  soon  remain  nothing  but  the 
shade"  (of  their  skins)  "to  distinguish  them."  He  then  appeals 
for  help  to  finish  the  Church  of  St.  Mary's.  "But  as  the  tinsel 
and  show  of  the  Roman  Catholic  of  New  South  Wales  seems 
to  be  as  inherent  a  part  of  his  worship  as  it  is  in  all  Catholic 
countries,  they  have  sacrificed  to  show  what,  with  prudence 
and  proper  management,  might  have  completed  a  building 
which  will  still  require  £3000  to  finish  it  ....  as  the  walls 
only  are  finished,  I  should  beg  to  suggest  that  Government 
should  assist  in  roofing  it  in,  putting  floors  and  windows,  and 
then  leave  the  remainder  to  themselves."  No  picture  of  Bris- 
bane is  needed  so  long  as  this  letter  exists.  A  man  honest  as 
the  sun;  a  plain,  blunt  soldier,  who  knew  nothing  whatever 
of  Catholicism ;  who  regarded  Catholics  as  poor,  inoffensive 
beings,  a  danger  to  none  but  themselves,  and  deserving,  at 
least,  of  all  men's  sympathy. 

A  liberal  salary  and  Government  assistance  would  certainly 
have  lightened  the  heavy  burdens  of  the  hard-worked  mis- 
sionary. But  the  lack  of  them  must  not  make  him  less  solicit- 
ous for  the  welfare  of  his  people.  Was  he  not  told  by  his 
Bishop,  "If  you  quit  the  vineyard,  who  will  cultivate  the  por- 
tions committed  to  your  care?"  The  reply  he  made  to  this 
letter  shows  him  in  a  more  settled  frame  of  mind:  "My  dear 
Lord, — I  lately  had  the  great  pleasure  of  a  letter  from  you.  It 
affords  me  the  greatest  possible  happiness  to  learn  that  you 
are  well.  I  am  still  alone  on  this  mission.  Mr.  Conolly  and 
Mr.  Coote  are  at  Van  Diemen's  Land.  Mr.  Coote  is  anxious 
to  come  here.    I  have  to  celebrate  Mass  at  Parramatta  and 


7a 


62  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Sydney  every  Sunday.  Within  the  last  ten  days  I  had  to  leave 
Sydney  for  Liverpool,  distant  20  miles,  at  9  p.m. ;  to  leave 
Sydney  at  11  p.m.  for  Parramatta;  and  Liverpool  for  Sydney 
at  midnight;  and  to  make  equally  long  excursions  by  day." 
To  another  friend  he  writes  about  the  same  date: — "My 
duties  here,  I  need  not  inform  you,  are  numerous  and  arduous ; 
and,  alas,  too  often  neglected  or  superficially  performed.  I  do 
not  sit  down  to  write  this  note  without,  in  my  mind,  a  reason- 
able apprehension  that  I  am  neglecting  a  more  important, 
though  less  agreeable,  duty.  It  is  now  4  o'clock,  and  many 
persons  are  now  awaiting  me  at  Parramatta  (15  miles  distant), 
to  which  I  must  proceed  this  evening."  There  was  work  suffi- 
cient for  a  large  number  of  zealous  priests. 

He  writes  at  a  later  date,  urging  the  Bishop  to  send  more 
priests : — 

Even  in  the  present  state  of  the  colony,  I  have  to  assure 
your  Lordship,  it  requires  at  least  seven  priests  to  discharge  in 
a  proper  and  regular  manner  the  duties  which  devolve  on  me, 
but  which  I  perform  in  a  very  irregular  and  superficial  manner, 
generally  through  necessity.  Many  persons  die  at  the  distant 
settlements  without  the  benefits  of  the  Sacraments.  Even  here, 
in  consequence  of  the  confessional  not  being  regularly  attended, 
we  have  scarcely  any  communicants. 

I  continue  to  wish  that  your  Lordship  would  send  some 
clergyman  to  supersede  me  for  about  eighteen  months,  and 
authorise  me  to  proceed  to  England  and  Ireland,  with  authority 
to  invite  a  few  well  qualified  clergymen,  with  the  approbation 
of  Earl  Bathurst  and  their  Bishops,  to  proceed  with  me  to  the 
colony. 

It  was  too  much  to  hope  for.  He  felt  he  had  asked  too  much, 
and  concluded : — 

However,  in  this  as  well  as  every  respect,  I  fondly  hope  that 
I  shall  always  consider  your  pleasure,  with  regard  to  my 
duties,  to  be  the  will  of  the  Almighty,  and  as  such  entitled  to 
my  unhesitating  and  cheerful  acquiescence. 

One  great  result  of  the  tolerant  legislation  of  Governor 
Brisbane  was  the  recognition  of  the  right  of  the  military  and 
of  convicts  to  full  liberty  of  conscience.    In  the  barracks  little 


SUFFERINGS   OF    CATHOLIC    CONVICTS  63 

difficulty  occurred  in  carrying  out  this  just  legislation.  But 
in  the  chain-gangs,  and  where  convicts  were  assigned,  the  law 
often  met  with  serious  opposition.  It  depended  entirely  on 
the  bigotry  or  the  tolerance  of  overseers,  private  masters,  and 
magistrates,  whether  such  convicts  should  enjoy  the  only 
privilege  granted  to  them.  Letters  from  convicts  to  Father 
Therry  frequently  tell  of  unmerciful  scourgings  and  penal- 
ties for  refusing  to  go  to  a  Church  of  England  service.  In 
one  letter  of  particular  interest  these  punishments  are  well 
described.  John  McCernan  prays  Father  Therry  to  procure 
his  removal  from  an  intolerant  master.  He  belongs,  he  writes, 
to  Mr.  Samuel  Terry's  farm  at  Mount  Pleasant.  He  was 
ordered  to  go  to  the  Protestant  service  at  Castlereagh.  He 
protested  to  the  deputy-overseer  against  being  compelled  to 
attend  a  service  contrary  to  his  conscience  and  principles, 
where  "they  would  make  a  laughing  stock  of  him  and  his 
beads/'  He  was  then  put  in  the  stocks  for  some  hours;  two 
days  later  a  magistrate  sentenced  him  to  fourteen  days  on  the 
tread-mill.  When  this  was  completed,  he  was  so  weak  that  he 
had  to  go  into  the  hospital,  and  an  order  was  given  to  the 
doctor  that,  if  he  were  found  not  to  be  suffering  with  dysen- 
tery, he  should  be  given  one  hundred  lashes.  This  account  is 
only  one  of  many. 

Now  that  Father  Therry  had  legal  right  on  his  side,  he 
lost  no  time  in  reprimanding  these  oppressors  of  religious 
liberty.  "May  I  be  permitted,"  he  writes  to  an  employer,  "to 
inform  you  that  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  having  ascer- 
tained that  persons  professing  the  Catholic  faith  are  not 
allowed  by  the  tenets  of  their  religion  to  attend  any  place  of 
worship  besides  their  own,  has  exempted  them  from  the 
necessity  of  going  to  church  on  Sundays.  I  have,  therefore, 
respectfully  to  beg,  Sir,  that  you  will  have  the  kindness  to 
extend  this  indulgence  to  Government  labourers  under  your 
immediate  jurisdiction."  Such  letters  to  individual  masters 
usually  took  little  effect.  Another  remedy  would  have  to  be 
found.  For  a  prohibition  against  forcing  Catholic  convicts 
to  attend  Protestant  services  must  be  substituted  a  positive 


64  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

regulation,  ordering  them  to  attend  a  Catholic  service.    He 
submits  his  plan  as  a  suggestion  to  Government: — 

As  a  servant  of  His  Majesty's  Government,  as  well  as  a 
minister  of  religion,  I  hope  it  may  not  be  deemed  unseemingly 
officious  or  presumptuous  of  me  occasionally  to  solicit  such 
favours  for  the  department  to  which  I  belong,  as  may  in  my 
opinion  tend  to  advance  the  interests  of  both  parties,  which 
cannot  safely  be  separated.  The  Altar  and  the  Throne  are 
never  respectively  so  secure,  as  when  reciprocally  assisted  and 
mutually  supported  by  each  other.  Under  this  impression,  and 
the  conviction  that  the  humane,  liberal  and  expansive  mind  of 
His  Excellency  the  Governor,  never  contemplated  by  enslaving 
conscience,  to  render  insupportably  nauseous  the  already  bitter 
cup  of  exile  and  bondage,  I  beg  leave  to  complain  of  an  oppres- 
sive grievance,  under  which  a  considerable  portion  of  the  exiled 
inhabitants  of  this  colony  laboured  for  many  3'ears,  and  from 
which  some  of  them,  at  Bathurst  and  other  settlements,  are  not 
yet  relieved,  notwithstanding  the  repeated  expressions  of  His 
Excellency's  intentions  to  that  effect. 

Although  by  the  tenets  of  the  Catholic  Church,  universal 
charity  is  imperatively  inculcated,  which  must  of  course,  em- 
brace the  people  of  every  clime,  without  a  single  exception,  yet 
communication  in  religious  rites  or  ceremonies  with  any  other 
persons  than  those  within  her  pale,  is  absolutely  prohibited.  For 
a  conscientious  obedience  to  this  prohibition,  many  individuals 
have  here  been  menaced,  put  to  death,  imprisoned  or  flogged. 

But  I  impute  not  improper  motives  or  tyrannical  intentions 
to  the  magistrate  who  ordered  the  inflictions  of  these  punish- 
ments, for  I  believe  that  in  almost  every  instance  they  were 
actuated  by  the  purest  motives — an  anxious  desire  to  maintain 
discipline,  subordination  and  peace,  and  to  prevent  designing 
and  ill-disposed  persons  from  making  conscience  a  cloak  to 
conceal  their  machinations  against  the  property  of  their  em- 
ployers, or  the  pittances  of  their  fellow  prisoners,  whilst 
attending  at  Divine  Worship.  A  difficulty  not  easy  to  be  sur- 
mounted was  thus  created,  and  still  exists.  How  then  it  may 
be  asked,  is  the  difficulty  to  be  obviated,  and  the  remedy  be 
prevented  from  becoming  as  dangerous  as  the  disease?  If 
allowed,  I  should  beg  to  submit  an  expedient.  From  that  class 
of  prisoners  sent  here  for  comparatively  trivial  offences,  and 
absolutely  not  of  a  degrading  and  demoralising  tendency,  an 
individual  might  be  selected  for  each  township,  qualified  and 
willing  for  a  small  pecuniary  consideration,  to  instruct  children 


RELIGIOUS   INSTRUCTION  65 

in  the  rudiments  of  education,  and  to  read  on  Sundays,  under 
the  inspection  of  a  constable  appointed  by  the  Magistrate,  a  few 
chapters  in  the  New  Testament,  and  an  approved  form  of 
prayer  during  the  time  of  public  service  in  the  church.  But,  as 
there  is  a  lamentable  want  of  appropriate  places  for  such  pur- 
poses, I  beg  most  respectfully  to  state  that  if  His  Excellency 
be  graciously  pleased  to  approve  of  it,  I  shall  provide,  Deo 
Adjuvante,  a  moiety  of  the  expense  that  may  be  necessary  to 
establish  them. 

This  was  a  very  practical  solution  of  the  difficult  situation 
which  had  arisen  from  prohibiting  the  attendance  of  Catho- 
lics at  Protestant  services — a  prohibition  that  made  it  possible 
for  them  to  indulge  in  questionable  conduct  during  the  absence 
of  their  masters.  But  the  large  number  of  letters  from  con- 
victs who  still  underwent  severe  punishment  on  this  account 
would  suggest  that  his  plan  was  never  acted  upon. 

The  question  of  religious  instruction,  however,  was  too 
urgent  to  allow  of  any  postponement.  The  orphan  schools 
were  still  barred  against  the  Catholic  chaplain,  and  only  one 
way  of  instructing  Catholic  children  lay  open.  He  must  estab- 
lish schools  of  his  own.  Commissioner  Bigge  in  his  report 
speaks  of  Catholic  schools  having  been  established:  "Since 
the  arrival  of  the  two  Catholic  clergymen  in  New  South  Wales, 
a  small  school  for  the  instruction  of  the  children  of  Roman 
Catholics  has  been  established  at  Paramatta;  but  it  appears 
that  before  that  period  they  had  been  admitted  into  the  orphan 
and  other  schools  of  the  colony,  without  any  reference  to 
their  religious  creed,  or  without  objection  on  the  part  of  their 
parents."  No  difficulty  was  experienced  about  the  admission 
of  Catholics  into  the  schools,  as  the  Commissioner  correctly 
states ;  but  he  does  not  add  that  they  did  not  come  out  Catho- 
lics. In  1824  the  mother  of  a  child  in  the  orphan  school 
wrote  Father  Therry  a  letter9  which  shows  the  conditions, 
other  than  spiritual,  that  prevailed  in  this  badly  conducted 
institution:  "Having  heard  that  several  deaths  have  taken 
place  of  late  at  the  Orphan  School,  and  from  maternal 
solicitude,    feeling    some    apprehension    on    account    of    my 

a  Given  in   full   in   Appendix   A,   No.  8. 


66  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

son,  who  is  in  that  establishment,  I  trouble  you  to  enquire 
if  my  son  is  still  living  and  in  health.  I  am  uneasy  from  a  fear 
of  his  falling  a  prey  to  some  disease,  from  the  alarming  in- 
crease of  mortality  at  the  Orphan  School/'  The  report  given 
by  Archdeacon  Scott  soon  after  his  arrival  so  strongly  criti- 
cises the  orphan  schools  that  if  it  had  come  from  another  pen 
the  writer  might  have  been  accused  of  bigotry.  He  writes; 
— "The  children  were  in  a  loathsome  and  horrid  state  of 
disease,  arising  from  the  neglect  of  the  masters  of  both  in- 
stitutions."10 And  Governor  Darling's  attention  was  in  the 
first  days  of  his  rule  directed  to  the  faulty  management 
of  the  institution. 

In  May,  1824,  Father  Therry  again  made  an  attempt  to 
reach  the  Catholic  children  there.  He  wrote  to  the  Governor : 
"I  beg  leave  to  propose  to  His  Excellency  that  if  he  gives 
approval  to  the  enclosed  little  book — an  Epitome  of  the  Gos- 
pels— to  be  reprinted  for  the  use  of  such  children  in  the 
orphan  schools  as  are  known  to  be  of  Catholic  parents,  and 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Factory,  Carters'  Barracks,  Hospitals, 
and  Prisons  in  the  colony,  I  shall  give  ample  security  to  pay 
on  demand  half  the  costs  attending  the  execution  of  his  order." 
The  Catholic  Epitome  of  the  Gospels,  as  well  as  the  Catechism 
of  Doctrine,  were  submitted  to  the  (Anglican)  clerical  direc- 
tors of  the  institution,  and  by  them  rejected  as  inadmissible. 

Father  Therry 's  school  at  Parramatta  was  a  speedy  answer 
to  this  system  of  proselytism.  With  what  great  sacrifice  he 
established  it,  we  can  easily  imagine.  In  1822  the  first  school 
was  opened  in  Sydney  by  Thomas  Byrne,  in  the  new  Court 
House  in  Castlereagh  Street.  Byrne,  according  to  Mr.  John 
Weingarth,  was  also  the  first  teacher  in  the  new  Hyde  Park 
Chapel  School,  as  it  was  called.  A  handwritten  advertisement 
among  Father  Therry's  papers  shows  that  another  school  was 
at  least  contemplated.  "At  the  instance  of  the  Revd.  Mr. 
Therry,  Andrew  Higgins  respectfully  takes  leave  to  acquaint 

the  public  that  he  will  open  school  at  No.  — , Street,  on 

Monday,  the  —  of  January,  1822."  He  promises  to  teach  all 
10  Dr.   UUathorne's   Reply    to   Judge   Burton,   p.   20. 


A    CATHOLIC    SCHOOL-HOUSE  67 

the  Sciences,  Grammar,  and  Bookkeeping,  and  hopes  that  his 
talents  will  be  found  satisfactory.  That  is  all  that  is  known  of 
him  and  his  school. 

In  August,  1823,  the  first  severe  blow  was  given  to  Father 
Therry's  educational  activities,  when,  for  want  of  adequate 
support,  the  teacher  of  the  Parramatta  school  was  forced  to 
retire.  The  Father  wrote  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  for  assist- 
ance : — "May  I  be  permitted  to  state  that,  having  in  conformity 
with  your  advice  confined  all  my  resources  to  the  single  object 
of  erecting  a  Chapel  in  this  town,  I  am  unable  to  afford  any 
pecuniary  assistance  to  the  establishing  of  schools,  which  are 
much  needed,  particularly  in  the  interior  of  the  country.  To 
say  a  word  on  education  to  one  of  your  enlightened  mind 
would,  indeed,  be  superfluous;  but  when  I  mention  the  cir- 
cumstance of  my  having  lately  lost  a  man  of  excellent  charac- 
ter, the  teacher  of  the  Catholic  School  at  Parramatta,  through 
want  of  adequate  support,  your  compassion  will  be  excited, 
and  you  may  be  induced  to  request  the  Governor  to  add  some- 
thing to  the  indulgence  which  he  has  already  ordered  the  Hyde 
Park  School  Master."  This  "indulgence"  had  in  1822 
amounted  to  £7  15s.  yd.  for  the  year. 

In  1824  education  could  boast  of  more  hopeful  and  pros- 
perous conditions,  and  Father  Therry  reported  to  the  Bishop 
a  surprising  development  in  the  already  completed  Chapel 
School: — "As  I  could  not  proceed  with  the  Chapel  for  want 
of  money,  I  amused  myself  in  erecting  a  school-house  near 
the  ChapeL11  It  is  a  very  handsome  building  in  the  cottage 
style,  100  feet  in  length,  with  two  returns  of  45  feet  each.  It 
is  ornamented  with  a  very  handsome  cupola,  for  which  we  have 
provided  a  good  bell.  You  will  smile  at  my  idea  of  building 
a  school  for  want  of  money,  but  I  assure  you  it  is  a  fact  as 
our  funds  did  not  amount  to  £20,  when  we  commenced  it. 
His  Excellency,  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane,  has  since  sent  me  £200, 
with  a  promise  of  strongly  recommending  H.M.G.  in  England 
to  send  further  assistance."  (The  £200  was  intended,  and 
used,  for  St.  Mary's  Church.)  In  another  letter  he  says  that 
11  See  Note  at  the  end  of  ch.  ix. 


68  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

the  school-house  is  in  honour  of  St.  Joseph,  and  is  to  be  called 
the  Josephian  School.  Other  hopes,  too,  it  raised  in  his  apos- 
tolic mind.  "It  is  large  enough  for  a  temporary  convent.  I  am 
not  without  a  hope  in  our  Lord  that  many  years  will  not  elapse 
before  we  shall  have  a  convent  and  a  monastery.  I  have 
already  been  promised  some  endowments  for  them." 

If  he  could  have  foreseen  the  bitter  war  of  hatred  and 
calumny  that  was  to  overwhelm  him  the  very  next  year,  his 
hopes  would  have  collapsed.  His  whole  life  in  New  South 
Wales  was  a  succession  of  periods  sometimes  bitter  as  gall, 
sometimes  replete  with  hope  and  consolation.  In  1824  he  was 
riding  triumphantly  on  a  wave  of  success.  He  saw  his  schools 
around  him.  He  knew  that,  when  he  had  his  schools,  he  had  a 
guarantee  for  the  faith  of  coming  generations.  The  following 
year  would  see  an  attack  upon  the  schools  so  far-reaching  and 
determined  as  to  replace  his  most  ardent  hopes  by  fears  akin 
to  despair. 


u 


M       S 


CHAPTER  VI. 

....  the  King's  further  pleasure  is, 

Because  all  those  things  you  have  done  of  late, 

By  your  power  legatine,  within  this  kingdom, 

Fall  into  the  compass  of  a  praemunire, 

That  therefore  such  a  writ  be  su'd  against  you ; 

To  forfeit  all  your  goods,  lands,  tenements, 

Chattels,  and  whatsoever,  and  to  be 

Out  of  the  King's  protection. 

— Shakespeare. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1825,  Governor  Darling  arrived 
in  New  South  Wales.  With  his  arrival  the  sun  set  upon  Catho- 
lic hopes,  and  an  evening  gloomy  with  forebodings  of  evil  was 
ushered  in,  to  develop  into  a  long  and  stormy  night.  The 
whole  Catholic  community  in  Australia — priest,  people,  schools, 
children — entered  on  a  period  of  persecution. 

A  letter  written  by  John  O'Sullivan  at  this  date  hints  at 
the  beginnings  of  the  trouble.  "When  the  present  Governor 
(Darling)  arrived,  Mr.  Therry,  as  Catholic  chaplain,  paid 
his  respects  to  him.  In  a  very  short  time  Mrs.  Darling,  the 
Governor's  lady,  became  patron  of  a  school,  called  the  'School 
of  Industry/  for  the  reception  of  young  females.  A  com- 
mittee of  ladies,  secretary,  etc.,  were  appointed.  Your  Lord- 
ship need  not  here  be  reminded  of  the  Charter  and  other  prose- 
lytizing schools  of  Ireland.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  this 
school  was  conducted  on  the  same  wicked  and  exclusive  plan.1 
Father  Therry,  as  a  watchful  pastor  was  bound  to  do,  remon- 
strated with  them  on  the  inroads  they  were  making  on  the 
creatures  of  his  communion.  He  respectfully  demanded  a 
small  portion  of  the  colonial  funds  which  these  were  lavish- 
ing, and  continue  to  lavish.  He  said  he  would  provide  schools 
for  the  Catholic  poor.  His  request  was  not  complied  with, 
while  he  incurred  the  displeasure  of  Mrs.  Darling,  Mrs. 
McLeay  and  her  daughter,  and  of  those  over  whom  they 
could  have  any  control/'  The  strong  language  of  Mr.  O'Sulli- 

1  See  newspaper  account  in  Appendix  A,  No.  16. 


70  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

van's  letter  was  prompted  by  a  keen  realization  of  injustice. 
The  events  to  which  he  alludes  merit  consideration  at  length. 

Once  again  must  the  memory  of  Bigge's  monumental  en- 
quiry be  recalled.  The  Commissioner's  Secretary  was  a  Mr. 
Thomas  Hobbes  Scott,  a  man  of  many  occupations  from  wine- 
selling  to  consular  work.  On  returning  to  England,  this  gentle- 
man's services  during  the  Australian  enquiry  were  recognized 
by  his  appointment  to  be  Archdeacon  of  New  South  Wales, 
and  in  this  capacity  he  reached  Sydney  in  May,  1825. 
His  first  Charge  to  the  Anglican  clergy  communicated 
"the  gracious  intention  of  His  Majesty  to  divide  the 
colony  into  compact  parishes  and  to  prosecute  the  work  of 
education  on  a  more  liberal  and  comprehensive  system  than 
that  which  had  hitherto  been  pursued."  For  this  he  was  to 
receive  a  stipend  of  £2000  per  annum,  and  become  possessed 
of  wealthy  pluralities  and  a  seat  on  the  Council.  Pointed 
allusions  to  the  position  of  the  Catholic  chaplain,  which  he 
made  in  his  published  plan  of  campaign  and  in  speeches  to  the 
Legislative  Council,  were  ominous  of  further  restrictions  on 
Father  Therry.  Dr.  Ullathorne  gives  an  instance  of  the  powers 
Scott  wished  to  exercise.  "Every  effort,"  he  writes,  "was 
made  by  Archdeacon  Scott  to  make  Protestantism  by  law  the 
religion  of  the  State  throughout  the  colony.  He  had  even  de- 
manded, as  a  right,  that  the  Catholic  baptismal  and  matri- 
monial registers  should  be  forwarded  to  him ;  and  in  this 
demand  he  was  sustained  by  the  Attorney-General.  Father 
Therry  courageously  resisted  the  demand,  and  eventually  his 
refusal  triumphed."  The  Archdeacon's  blustering  attitude  in- 
dicated that  he  was  expecting  a  grant  of  further  powers  to 
enable  him  to  carry  out  successfully  the  establishment  of  the 
Anglican  Church. 

The  expected  favours  were  not  long  in  coming,  and  were 
of  so  liberal  a  nature  that  to  us  their  scope  and  influence  are 
astounding.  In  a  despatch  (dated  January  1,  1825)  from  Earl 
Bathurst  to  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane  notification  is  given  of  a 
plan  of  provision  for  the  Church  of  England2 : — 

2  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xi.,  438-9- 


CLERGY   AND    SCHOOL    LANDS    TRUST  71 

....  The  making  of  an  adequate  provision  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Clergy  of  the  Established  Church  of  England 
throughout  the  Colony,  and  for  the  Education  of  Youth  in 
the  principles  of  the  Church,  is  a  subject  which  has  engaged 
the  peculiar  and  anxious  attention  of  His  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment; to  answer  these  great  ends,  it  has  been  thought  neces- 
sary to  establish  a  corporation,  to  consist  of  the  Governor  as 
President,  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  the  Chief  Justice  and  the 
members  of  the  Legislative  Council  for  the  time  being,  the 
Archdeacon  of  New  South  Wales,  the  Colonial  Secretary,  the 
Attorney  and  Solicitor  General 

It  is  proposed  to  invest  the  corporation  with  an  estate  in 
each  County  into  which  the  Colony  is  to  be  divided.  That 
Estate  will,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  lie  in  one  continuous  and  un- 
broken tract.  .  .  .  These  lands  to  be  called  the  Clergy  and 
School  Estates  will  comprize  one-seventh  part  in  extent  and 
value  of  all  the  lands  in  each  County.  .  .  .  The  lands  thus  to  be 
set  apart  must  be  of  an  average  quality  and  Value  in  reference 
to  the  general  value  of  the  lands  comprized  in  the  County,  in 
which  each  particular  allotment  may  be  made;  and  they  must 
select  such  situations  as  may  afford  a  reasonable  and  equal 
share  of  all  those  natural  advantages  of  water  carriage,  or 
other  internal  communication,  which  may  be  possessed  by  the 
lands  in  general  throughout  the  County 

The  "Draft  of  Charter  of  Incorporation  for  management 
of  Church  and  School  Estates"3  is  a  most  enlightening  testi- 
mony to  the  affection  of  the  Home  Government  for  the  Estab- 
lished Church  in  Australia.  Whilst  authorizing  and  confirming 
all  privileges  mentioned  in  the  letter  just  quoted,  it  bestows 
more  favours  on  this  spoilt  child  of  a  doting  parent.  The  Cor- 
poration mentioned  above  is  united  into  a  company,  with  per- 
petual succession,  by  the  name  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Clergy 
and  School  Lands  in  the  Colony  of  New  South  Wales.  Strict 
regulations  are  laid  down  for  the  appointment  of  a  staff  to 
direct  the  management  and  sales  of  this  vast  tract  given  into 
their  hands.  Nor  are  they  to  lose  the  glebe  lands  which  had 
been  granted  to  the  Anglican  Church  a  short  time  previous- 
ly :— 

And  we  do  further  grant  and  declare  that  all  the  lands, 


3  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xi.,  444  sqq. 


72  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

heretofore  set  apart  within  the  said  Colony  for  the  support  of 
the  clergy  of  the  Established  Church,  and  known  by  the  name 

of  Glebe  lands  ....  shall pass  to  and  become  vested  in 

the  said  Corporation 

Education  was  to  benefit.  But  it  was  an  education  in  which 
Catholic  children  could  not  conscientiously  take  part.  "We 
do  further  direct  and  Ordain  That  the  schools,  so  to  be  estab- 
lished as  aforesaid,  shall  be  subject  to  the  order,  direction,  and 
superintendance  and  control  of  the  clergyman  or  minister  of 
the  Church  of  England.  .  .  and  the  Bishop  .  .  .  shall  be  .  . 
the  Visitor  of  all  the  said  schools  throughout  the  said  Colony. 
.  .  .  The  Bishop  .  .  .  shall  nominate  and  appoint  the  school 
masters."  Thus  the  State  schools  were  closed  to  Catholics — 
at  least,  to  Catholics  who  did  not  wish  their  children  to  be 
brought  up  in  the  tenets  of  the  Anglican  Church. 

The  orphanages  fared  even  worse.  Parents  might  prevent 
their  children  from  partaking  of  an  education  which  they 
could  not  conscientiously  sanction.  But  orphans  could  not 
appeal  to  any  authority. 

It  is  our  Will,  and  We  do  further  declare  That  all  and 
every  the  lands  and  tenements  within  our  said  Colony,  hereto- 
fore appropriated  and  set  apart  by  the  former  Governors  of 
our  said  Colony,  or  any  of  them,  for  the  maintenance  and  Edu- 
cation of  Male  and  female  Orphans,  and  all  such  parts  of  our 
Revenues  arising  within  our  said  Colony,  as  hath  by  any  such 
Governor  been  appropriated  and  set  apart  for  the  Education 
of  Youth  therein,  shall  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  vested  in 
and  placed  under  the  Management,  care  and  superintendance 
of  the  said  Corporation,  to  be  by  them  applied  and  disposed  of 
in  aid  of  the  Funds  aforesaid  in  and  towards  the  Education 
of  Youth  in  the  said  Colony  in  the  principles  of  the  Established 
Church. 

It  is  easy  to  picture  the  struggling  efforts  of  Father  Therry, 
single-handed,  penniless  and  alone,  against  an  opponent  so 
well  endowed  with  Government  favour  and  a  seventh  of  the 
lands  of  the  colony. 

Though  the  Corporation  was  short-lived,  the  influence  it 
wielded  was  incalculable.    Such  liberal  bequests  as  it  was  in- 


FAVOURITISM    TO    ANGLICANS  73 

tended  to  enjoy  were  hardly  practicable  in  1825 ;  five  years 
later  it  was  almost  impossible  to  obey  the  orders.  In  1829  it 
was  intimated  that  the  King  wished  to  withdraw  the  Charter, 
but  this  was  not  done  until  the  4th  of  February,  1833,  the 
notification  being  officially  gazetted  on  the  28th  of  August. 
In  the  few  years  of  its  existence,  according  to  the  statement 
of  the  agent  for  the  Corporation,  435,765  acres  had  been 
granted,  and  nearly  16,000  had  been  sold.  The  remainder 
reverted  to  the  Crown. 

.  To  understand  the  serious  position  in  which  Catholics  had 
been  placed,  it  is  necessary  to  estimate  the  importance  of  these 
official  attempts  to  establish  the  Anglican  Church.  The  census 
of  1828 — at  which  date  the  Corporation  was  in  its  heyday  of 
success — gives  a  total  population  of  36,598.  Of  these  25,248 
were  members  of  the  various  Protestant  religions,  and  11,236 
were  Catholics.  During  the  five  years  of  the  Corporation's 
active  reign,  the  sum  of  £91,500  was  given  to  the  Anglican 
Church,  besides  a  special  Parliamentary  grant  in  1826.  The 
Catholic  Church  in  the  same  period  benefited  to  the  extent 
of  a  little  more  than  £1000.  Had  the  Corporation  been  kept 
alive  in  accordance  with  its  Charter  of  Constitution,  there 
would  gradually  have  been  created — in  the  words  of  Dr.  Ulla- 
thorne — "a  sort  of  clerical  caste,  a  body  of  Christian  Brah- 
mins, minus  their  mortifications  and  self-denial.  Valuable  ap- 
pointments would  have  soon  been  found  descending  in 
families.  There  would  have  been  a  line  of  priesthood,  almost 
as  certain  as  a  succession  of  title  or  an  entail  of  property."4 

To  secure  the  rights  of  the  ten  thousand  Catholics,  there 
was  only  one  man  to  raise  his  voice — one  priest,  whose  religion 
was  ignored  by  the  State  and  actively  persecuted  by  many 
officials  of  the  Government.  The  Catholic  children  in  the 
Government  Orphanage  must  forfeit  their  faith,  and  be 
brought  up  in  the  religion  of  the  State.  Father  Therry  was 
denied  admission  to  these  institutions;  when  he  petitioned 
Government  for  permission  to  distribute  the  Catholic  Cate- 

4  Reply  to  Judge  Burton. 


74  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

chism  among  the  Catholic  children,  he  was  informed  that  "the 
petition  having  been  submitted  by  His  Excellency  to  the  peru- 
sal of  the  Venerable  Archdeacon  Scott,  it  is  his  opinion  that 
the  catechisms  should  not  be  distributed  in  the  Orphan  Schools 
of  the  Crown."  If  Father  Therry  officiated  at  a  burial  in 
public  ground,  he  did  so  on  sufferance ;  the  stole-fee  was  de- 
manded by  the  Protestant  minister,  and,  if  refused  (as  hap- 
pened in  some  cases),  was  exacted  by  him  in  his  capacity  as 
magistrate. 

Whatever  consequences  might  follow,  the  guardian  of  the 
Catholic  people  could  not  stand  idly  by.  On  14  June,  1825, 
he  published  in  the  Gazette  his  plans  for  remedying  Catholic 
disabilities.  He  had  to  thank  a  generous  benefactor,  and  took 
occasion  to  bring  under  the  public  notice  the  need  of  accom- 
modation for  his  people  in  Sydney  and  the  outlying  districts. 
To  counterbalance  the  impossible  system  of  public  education, 
he  proposed  to  establish  a  Catholic  Education  Society.  The 
text  of  his  article  is  of  such  importance  that  it  must  be  quoted 
in  full  :— 

The  Roman  Catholic  chaplain  has  publicly  to  express  his 
grateful  acknowledgments  to  Mr.  James  Burke,  of  Airds,  a 
native  of  the  colony,  for  his  offer  of  five  acres  of  cleared  and 
valuable  land,  contiguous  to  Campbelltown,  as  a  burial  ground 
and  site  for  a  chapel  and  school-house,  and  for  his  still  more 
liberal  promise  to  give  double  that  number  of  acres,  if  so 
many  should  be  required  for  these  purposes.  It  may  be  neces- 
sary here  to  state,  that  the  Roman  Catholics  who  form  the 
greater  number  of  at  least  the  free  inhabitants  of  that,  and  of 
some  of  the  adjoining  districts,  having  no  place  to  assemble  in 
on  the  Lord's  day,  for  the  purpose  of  divine  worship,  but  the 
open  air  (in  which  the  prisoners  of  that  persuasion  are  obliged 
to  continue  for  hours  together,  on  every  Sunday,  exposed  to 
all  the  vicissitudes  of  the  weather,  in  order  to  be  exempted 
from  a  necessity  of  attending  at  ceremonies  of  which  they 
cannot  conscientiously  approve)  ;  and  having  already  liberally 
subscribed  to  the  erection  of  the  Sydney  chapel,  the  funds 
of  which  are  indeed  nearly,  if  not  completely,  exhausted,  de- 
cline contributing  any  further  to  that  edifice,  until  they  shall 
have    first    erected   a   temporary   chapel    in    their    immediate 


"UNQUALIFIED  RESPECT"  75 

neighbourhood.  And,  as  from  a  document5  which  has  been 
recently  published,  it  may  be  inferred,  that  public  provision 
is  to  be  made  for  Protestant  parochial  schools  exclusively; 
and  that  the  children  of  the  Catholic  poor  are  to  be  either 
excluded  from  the  salutary  benefits  of  education,  or  com- 
pelled or  enticed  to  abandon  the  truly  venerable  religion  of  their 
ancestors,  according  to  the  past  and  present  system  of  the 
Orphan  School  establishment  in  the  colony;  and  as  the  lesser 
of  these  evils  is  to  be  deprecated  as  a  most  serious  one,  the 
Roman  Catholic  chaplain,  with  the  fond  hope  of  obviating  both, 
is  determined,  Deo  adjuvante,  immediately  to  form  a  Roman 
Catholic  education  society,  into  which,  however,  persons  of  any 
persuasion  may  be  admitted,  on  subscribing  to  its  funds  fifteen 
shillings  a  year,  or  one  shilling  and  threepence  per  month. 

But,  he  has  seriously  to  regret,  that  this  design  has  not 
been  anticipated;  or,  that  its  execution  has  not  been  reserved 
for  less  humble  and  more  efficient  instrumentality  than  his. 

The  intention  of  the  Roman  Catholic  chaplain,  to  procure 
places  of  burial  separate  from  those  of  the  Establishment,  will 
not  be  ascribed  by  any  person  who  happens  to  know  him.  to  a 
spirit  of  illiberality.  The  idea  was  first  suggested  to  him  by  a 
personage  of  high  rank  and  distinguished  liberality  and  benevo- 
lence, of  another  persuasion,  who  had  known  by  experience 
such  a  measure  to  be  in  strict  accordance  with  the  discipline 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  calculated  to  prevent  the  clashing 
or  inconvenient  interference  of  the  respective  duties  of  clergy- 
men of  different  societies,  and  the  recurrence  of  an  instance 
which  had  more  than  once  taken  place,  in  which  burial  or 
surplice  dues  were  required  from  the  surviving  friends  of 
deceased  Catholics,  by  a  minister  who  had  not  officiated  at  the 
interments;  and,  on  payment  of  them  being  refused,  were  en- 
forced by  him  in  his  capacity  of  magistrate. 

This  precedent,  however,  he  feels  it  his  duty  also  to  state, 
has  neither  been  nor  is  likely  to  be  adopted  by  the  other  Rev. 
Gentlemen  of  the  Establishment,  who  (with  the  Reverend 
Gentleman  alluded  to,  who  he  sincerely  believes  on  these 
occasions  merely  vindicated  what  he  considered  to  be  his  just 
rights)  are  in  every  way  entitled  to,  and  possess  his  unqualified 
respect. 

Sydney,  June  14,  1825. 


1  The  Anglican  Archdeacon's   visitation  charge. 


76  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

The  Editor  of  the  Australian  ably  supported  Father  Therry's 
claims  in  a  leading  article ;  but  this  was  the  only  voice  raised 
in  approval.  By  some  fateful  mischance,  the  last  phrase  of 
the  Gazette  article  was  printed  incorrectly,  and  read:  "are 
in  every  way  entitled  to,  and  possess  his  qualified  respect." 
Although  an  apology  was  immediately  published,  and  the 
explanation  given  (and  confirmed  by  the  printer  of  the 
Gazette)  that  the  objectionable  word  was  merely  a  typograph- 
ical error,  and  that  no  insult  was  intended,  Father  Therry  was 
assailed  on  every  side. 

The  occasion  so  long  awaited  was  at  hand.  Persecu- 
tion, veiled  in  the  past,  now  became  active  and  bitter.  Directed 
as  it  was  at  the  person  of  the  only  priest  in  the  colony,  it 
reached  its  mark  in  the  whole  Catholic  community.  Arch- 
deacon Scott  presented  a  formal  complaint  to  the  Home  Gov- 
ernment, demanding  the  removal  of  the  Catholic  chaplain.5 
In  a  memorial  drawn  up  by  Father  Therry  in  1833  the  inci- 
dent is  more  fully  described. 

Petitioner  was  removed  from  his  Official  situation  as 
Government  Chaplain,  and  his  salary  withdrawn,  by  order  of 
Earl  Bathurst,  who,  at  the  same  time,  ordered  that  three  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling  should  be  given  to  Petitioner  to  provide 
a  passage  to  England,  should  he  wish  to  return  thereto.  Peti- 
tioner could  not  for  any  temporal  consideration  whatever,  with- 
out compromising  an  imperative  and  most  sacred  duty,  consent, 
at  that  time  to  leave  the  Colony,  circumstanced  as  the  Flock 
committed  to  his  pastoral  care  then  were. 

The  ban  of  this  suspension  was  not  removed,  in  spite  of 
frequent  petitions,  till  1837.  During  the  intervening  twelve 
years  he  laboured,  for  some  time  single-handed,  but  always 
without  the  official  status  of  a  Government  Chaplain. 

The  reason  for  this  violent  upheaval  of  Protestant  opinion 
is  evident.  Father  Therry  was  the  first  man  of  any  conse- 
quence to  attack  an  unjust  system  of  favouritism  and  prodigal 
public  expenditure.  He  had  dared  to  speak  out  what  hundreds 
had  thought. 

6  Ullathorne's   Autobiography,  p.   51. 


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DOM    BIRT'S    EULOGY  77 

Though  Father  Therry  did  not  realize  it  at  the  time,  he  was, 
as  Dom  Birt  truly  says,  "by  his  courage  and  by  his  uncom- 
promising attitude,  fighting  the  battle  of  liberty  and  equality 
against  the  injustice  of  the  Church  Lands  Charter,  and  was 
paving  the  way  for  the  Church  Act  which  was  so  distasteful 
to  the  members  of  the  Established  Church,  as  depriving  them 
of  their  unwarranted  predominance."7 

It  is  to  this  struggle  that  we  must  look  for  the  seeds  of 
religions  liberty  in  Australia. 


7  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  i.,  132. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Though  a  battle's  to  fight  ere  the  guerdon  be  gained. 

— Browning. 

The  Catholic  Church  was  now  being  attacked  from  all  sides, 
and  its  only  pastor  was  cut  off  from  public  recognition.  It 
seemed  probable,  however,  that  the  effect  of  this  violence 
might  be  merely  temporary,  for  not  only  leading  citizens,  but 
Wentworth's  newspaper,  the  Australian,  were  inclined  mark- 
edly to  sympathize  with  the  oppressed  Catholics.  On  two 
occasions  leading  articles  in  the  Australian,  subsequently  re- 
printed by  Father  Therry  as  pamphlets,  championed  the 
Catholic  cause.  One,  entitled  "Extract  from  a  Leading  Article 
of  the  Australian,  edited  by  R.  Wardell,  L.L.D."(^V),  may 
be  quoted  here : — 

We  are  sorry  to  learn  that  the  funds  of  the  Catholic 
Chapel  are  at  a  very  low  ebb,  and  that  on  this  account  it  is 
probable  the  progress  of  the  building  may  be  greatly  retarded. 
In  the  completion  of  this  structure  the  inhabitants  of  the  Colony 
are  much  more  deeply  interested  than  is  commonly  imagined. 
Every  friend  to  peace  and  good  order,  every  liberal  promoter 
of  religion  must  feel  desirous  of  contributing  his  mite  when 
he  considers  how  much  the  having  a  Catholic  place  of  Worship 
may  influence  the  morals  of  a  great  portion  of  the  Community, 
and  prevent  many  evils  to  which  unoccupied  time  and  thoughts 
give  rise.  It  is  not  for  us  to  investigate  the  merits  of  different 
persuasions;  all  equally  conduce  to  the  same  end,  all  are 
equally  meritorious  in  the  eye  and  estimation  of  ONE.  Bigotry 
and  intolerance  may  shrink  from  giving  aid  to  the  funds  of  the 
Catholic  Chapel,  merely  because  the  Catholic  Faith  would  be 
thereby  promoted.  But  the  enlightened  mind  looks  far  beyond 
such  narrow  views.  The  followers  of  this  religion  are  exceed- 
ingly numerous  in  all  parts  of  the  Colony,  and  have  no  means 
of  keeping  the  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  devotion.  The  Protestant 
Religion  is  well  taken  care  of,  because  it  is  the  religion  of  the 
Land  as  by  Law  established.  Its  institutions  are  a  national  con- 
cern, and  in  truth  are  nationally  supported.  But  when  we  con- 
sider that  by  preserving  the  religion  of  the  people,  though  that 

73 


SYMPATHY    OF    DR.    WARDELL  79 

be  the  Catholic  Religion,  we  preserve  their  morals,  we  should 
not  startle  at  'outward  forms/  nor  be  unmindful  of  affording 
the  Catholic  the  means  of  attending  his  sanctuary  on  Sunday. 

There  is  for  the  most  part  a  more  general  inclination 
among  Catholics  to  visit  their  Churches  than  among  Pro- 
testants, but  the  neglect  of  public  worship  in  the  former  when 
it  is  voluntary,  arises  from  a  total  estrangement  of  the  mind 
from  the  bonds  of  religion.  Separate  a  Catholic  from  his  re- 
ligious duties,  and  you  weaken  the  force  of  his  conscience,  and 
destroy  his  religious  faith.  It  is  of  consequence,  therefore,  to 
give  all  possible  furtherance,  not  only  to  the  Catholic  Chapel  in 
Sydney,  but  to  the  performance  of  the  Catholic  worship  in  such 
part  (sic)  of  the  Colony  as  are  known  to  contain  a  great  many 
Catholic  Members  of  Society. 

There  is  every  inducement  for  persons  not  to  be  sparing 
in  their  contributions,  as,  through  the  liberality  of  Govern- 
ment, the  Colonial  Fund  is  pledged  to  double  the  sum  raised 
from  the  public. 

The  want  of  Catholic  Seminaries  is  likely  also  to  become 
matter  of  much  consequence  here,  and  since  the  attention  has 
been  directed  to  the  establishment  of  public  Protestant  Schools 
it  would  not  be  illaudable  in  the  Government  to  second  and 
promote  the  liberal  views  in  this  respect,  of  the  worthy  Catholic 
Pastor.  This  Gentleman  contemplates  the  institution  of  a 
School,  at  which  might  be  educated  both  Protestant  and  Catho- 
lic children.  Though  he  may  not,  on  account  of  this  Statute, 
be  able  to  effect  his  object  on  the  liberal  scale  suggested  by 
his  unprejudiced  mind,  we  hope  that  it  will  be  supported  as 
far  as  it  can,  and  not  left  entirely  to  his  single  efforts. 

To  put  new  life,  therefore,  into  the  waning  fire  of  antagon- 
ism, Father  Therry's  opponents  revived  a  cry  which  bigots  have 
often  used  before  and  since,  because  the  seriousness  of  the 
charge  and  the  insidious  fastening  of  it  on  a  community  rather 
than  on  an  individual  have  usually  ensured  its  success.  They 
alleged  that  the  existence  of  a  Catholic  community  in  the 
colony  was  dangerous  to  its  well-being,  as  the  tenets  of  the 
Catholic  religion  made  loyalty  to  a  Protestant  King  impos- 
sible. 

Father  Therry  lost  no  time  in  meeting  and  confuting  this 
accusation.  He  arranged  for  the  reprinting  of  a  pamphlet 
written  by  "one  who  had  been  a  Bishop  of  the  Church  for 


80  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

nearly  half  a  century,1  and  who  should  therefore  know  what 
he  spoke  about."  An  advertisement  of  this  Tract,  published  in 
the  Australian  on  4  August,  1825,  was  subsequently  reprinted 
in  pamphlet  form.  It  reads : — 

At  a  time  when  numerous  tracts,  replete  with  misrepre- 
sentations of  the  Catholic  religion,  are  industriously  circulated, 
both  by  interested  and  well  meaning  persons,  no  honest  and 
unprejudiced  mind  can  be  dissatisfied  at  the  publication  of  a 
Tract,  containing  a  candid  exposition,  and  a  brief  and  temperate 
defence  of  the  general  discipline  and  doctrine  of  that  religion ; 
and  from  the  pen  of  a  Prelate,  venerable  for  his  sanctity, 
science  and  age,  who  having  been  for  nearly  half  a  century  a 
Bishop  in  the  Catholic  Church,  must  be  supposed  to  understand 
the  subject  of  which  he  treats.  It  has  been  lately  reprinted,  and 
may  be  had  at  the  Chapel  School-house,  Hyde  Park.  Price  one 
shilling. 

From  this  Tract  even  the  liberal  and  enlightened  Pro- 
testant, as  well  as  the  uninformed  Catholic,  may  derive  a  more 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  tenets  of  Catholicism,  than  through 
the  medium  of  its  conscientious,  but  not  always  unbiassed, 
opponents — and  ascertain  whether  Catholics  are  not  bound  by 
as  strict  bonds  of  allegiance  to  their  Sovereign,  and  as  strong 
ties  of  affection  to  their  brethren,  of  every  sect,  as  the  members 
of  any  other  religious  community.  To  the  King  they  are  bound 
by  affectionate  gratitude,  as  well  as  allegiance.  His  sentiments 
towards  them  are  always  paternal,  as  has  been  recently  evinced 
by  his  royal  proclamation  regarding  religious  equality,  as  to 
civil  rights  and  priveleges  (sic),  in  his  Kingdom  of  Hanover, 
of  which  he  is  not,  as  in  Great  Britain,  a  limited  and  irrespon- 
sible, but  a  responsible  and  absolute  Monarch ;  and  where  being 
more  exempt  from  influence,  and  less  liable  to  be  controlled 
by  circumstances,  he  may  the  more  freely  indulge  the  pre- 
dilections of  his  truly  benevolent  heart. 

Their  affection  for  their  Protestant  brethren  also  is  con- 
siderably strengthened  by  the  increased  and  increasing  liber- 
ality, of  which  they  have  daily  experience. 

It  is  certain  that  neither  the  Government  nor  the  public 
can,  in  any  possible  manner,  be  inconvenienced  by  the  strict 
adherence  of  the  Catholic  to  the  principles,  and  his  prompt 
obedience  to  the  precepts  of  his  religious  faith ;  as  experience 
demonstrates  that  the  more  strict  they  are,  the  more  securely 

*The  tract  has  not  been  found  among  the  Therry  Papers,  so  that 
the  author's  name  cannot  be  ascertained. 


APPEAL   FOR    FUNDS  81 

may  reliance  be  placed  on  his  allegiance  and  fidelity,  in  every 
capacity  and  under  any  circumstances. 

It  is  therefore  desirable,  the  more  especially  as  the  Roman 
Catholic  Chaplain  has  it  not  in  his  power  to  communicate  verbal 
instruction  to  any  considerable  portion  of  his  community, 
that  some  means  should  be  speedily  devised  to  distribute 
amongst  them  such  religious  books  as  may  be  approved  of  by 
their  Pastors,  and  from  which  only  they  are  likely  to  derive 
benefit.  But  he  is  prevented  by  the  almost  exhausted  state  of 
funds  of  the  Catholic  Chapel,  and  the  perilously  exposed  state 
of  the  building  (without  a  roof,  as  it  is  likely  to  be  for  a  pro- 
tracted period,  unless  the  wealthy  and  benevolent  portion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Australia  again  come  forward  to  its  aid)  from 
devoting  much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  any  other  object 
requiring  pecuniary  assistance,  than  the  remedy  of  this  serious 
inconvenience.  A  dollar  a  year,  however,  might  be  contributed 
by  very  many  benevolent  persons,  for  the  former  purpose, 
without  an  infringement  on  whatever  benefactions  they  may 
intend  for  the  latter. 

Sydney,  August  2,  1825. 

The  list  of  subscribers  to  the  Catholic  Chapel,  Hyde  Park, 
will,  it  is  expected,  be  ready  for  publication  in  the  course  of  the 
ensuing  month.  Subscriptions,  in  the  interim,  will,  as  usual, 
be  received  by  J.  T.  Campbell,  Esq.,  J. P.,  Treasurer;  Captain 
Piper,  J.P. ;  Messrs.  Berry  and  Wollstonecraft ;  A.  K.  Mac- 
kenzie, Esq.,  Bank;  and  the  Reverend  J.  J.  Therry. 

In  the  pamphlet  this  is  followed  by  a  characteristic  pro- 
nouncement of  Father  Therry's,  dated  10  November,  1825. 
It  begins : — 

The  Roman  Catholic  Chaplain,  in  consequence  of  a  recent 
occurrence  caused,  as  it  has  been  publicly  conjectured,  by 
clerical  influence,  feels  it  incumbent  on  him  to  inform  or  remind 
his  brethren  of  every  religious  denomination,  that  the  impious 
and  demoralising  law  which  authorised  the  appropriation  of  any 
bequest  made  to  a  Catholic  Institution,  whether  religious  or 
charitable,  to  pious  Protestant  purposes,  can  no  longer  be  re- 
sorted to,  as  an  authority  and  sanction  for  sacrilegious 
spoliation. 

Persons  of  every  persuasion  may  now,  Heaven  and  a 
liberal  Government  be  thanked,  bequeath  property  even  to 
Catholic  Trustees,  for  the  endowment  of  Catholic  establish- 
ments— such  as  a  college,  seminary,  orphan  school,  convent,  or 


82  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

monastery.  Mentioning  the  two  last,  may  possibly  excite  alarm 
in  the  minds  of  some  persons  who  appear  to  forget  that  the 
English  Church,  as  at  present  constituted,  is  indebted  to  similar 
institutions  for  a  great  portion  of  the  erudition  and  opulence 
for  which  her  clergy  are  so  pre-eminently  distinguished ;  and  it 
is  hoped,  that  this  alarm  may  not  increase,  on  being  as  they 
are  hereby  informed,  that  three  ladies,  who  are  learned,  respect- 
able, and  independent,  and  who  have  spent  many  years  in  a 
convent,  employed  in  imparting  religious  and  moral  instruction 
to  the  female  poor,  are  now  anxious  to  devote  the  remainder 

of  their  lives  to  the   education   of2     ,     ,     , 

in  this  interesting  colony,  and  only  await  the  formation  of  a 
suitable  establishment  for  their  reception. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Chaplain  is  not  without  a  hope  of 
being  enabled  to  induce  also,  two  gentlemen,  who  are,  and  have 
been  for  some  years,  inmates  of  a  monastery,  where  no  less 
than  six  hundred  poor  children  are  now  being  educated 
gratuitously,  to  devote  their  services  to  the  poor  children  of 
this  Country. 

The  forces  arrayed  against  the  hard-pressed  missionary 
were  many.  The  period  was  fraught  with  great  issues.  The 
success  or  failure  of  the  Church  in  Australia  depended,  to  an 
alarming  extent,  upon  his  method  of  acting  in  these  serious 
circumstances.  Two  courses  lay  open  to  him.  If  he  restrained 
his  indignation  at  the  unmerited  treatment  Catholics  had  re- 
ceived ever  since  Archdeacon  Scott's  arrival,  the  persecution 
might  lose  its  force  in  a  few  years ;  but  he  would  thereby  have 
given  tacit  approval  to  the  spoliations  contemplated  and  already 
begun,  and  would  have  forfeited  rights  that  might  take  the 
Church  many  years  to  redeem.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  he  pub- 
licly defended  his  Church  and  fought  his  opponents  with  all 
his  energy,  he  would  bring  on  greater  troubles.  His  nature 
was  too  impulsive  to  follow  any  but  the  latter  course.  He 
was  a  Celt,  and  therefore  a  fighter.  He  began  by  summarizing 
for  the  public  benefit  the  difficulties  under  which  he  laboured  :3 

A  dignitary  of  the  Protestant  Establishment,  who  in 
private  life  is,  without  doubt,  benevolent  and  amiable,  has  been 
lately  invested  with  powers,  which,  however  they  may  operate 

3  The  extant  copy  of  the  pamphlet  is  here  mutilated. 

3  We  quote  again  from  the  pronouncement  of  November  io. 


"A    POLITICAL   ARCHIMEDES"  83 

in  respect  to  his  own  Church,  are  not  likely  to  shed  a  salutary 
influence  on  any  other.  Two  thousand  pounds  a  year,  exclusive 
of  emoluments — a  seat  in  the  Legislative  Council,  from  which 
one  or  two  of  the  more  experienced  of  the  five  members,  of 
which  it  consists,  may  sometimes  unavoidably  be  absent,  in  con- 
sequence of  indisposition,  or  a  multiplicity  of  pressing  business 
— a  directorship  in  the  great  Agricultural  Company — the  office 
of  King's  Visitor  of  all  Public  Schools — the  power  of  dis- 
posing, for  specific  purposes,  of  some  hundred  thousand  acres 
of  land,  a  plentitude  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction;  all  these, 
may,  in  the  hands  of  a  political  Archimedes,  form  a  lever  of 
a  power  sufficient  to  disturb  at  discretion,  the  very  foundation 
of  the  Catholic  Church  as  established  here,  and  with  it  the 
peace  and  safety  of  the  Colony,  unless  it  speedily  derive  addi- 
tional weight  and  strength  from  the  government  or  the  Pro- 
testant Community.  And  although  it  is  certain  that  these 
advantages  have  not  been  intended  by  his  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment for  such  a  purpose,  yet  circumstances  have  occurred, 
since  they  were  conferred,  which  afford  sufficient  ground  for 
alarm  to  the  Catholic  body.  They  have  been  told  that  certain 
promises,  made  in  their  favor  by  his  Majesty's  Representative, 
would  not  be  approved  or  confirmed  by  the  King,  that  the 
Church  which  they  intend  to  dedicate  to  the  service  of  the 
Omnipotent,  will  be  considered  by  Earl  Bathurst  to  be  too 
magnificent  and  expensive ;  although  it  is  known  that  a  house 
for  one  of  the  Junior  Protestant  Chaplains  has  lately  cost 
government  nearly  as  great  a  sum  as  has  been  expended  on 
the  former.  Some  unfortunate  men,  whose  terms  of  trans- 
portation have  not  as  yet  expired,  have  been  punished  for 
refusing  to  attend  the  lectures  of  Protestant  Divines. 

An  Act  of  Council  has  lately  passed,  by  one  clause  of  which 
the  Catholic  Clergyman  may  be  made  tributary  to  the  Protes- 
tant Minister;  and  in  virtue  of  which  he  must  either  abandon 
his  flock,  or  involve  himself  and  many  of  them  in  interminable 
litigation.  Protestant  servants  are  selected  for  the  Orphan- 
schools,  and  Catholic  books,  even  catechisms,  are  excluded 
from  them,  lest  any  of  the  children  of  Catholic  parents  should 
be  induced  to  return  to  the  Holy  Religion  from  which  they  had 
been  enticed — and  for  the  preservation  and  safe  transmission 
of  which  the  ancestors  of  some  of  them  cheerfully  submitted 
to  the  alienation  of  their  property.  Major  Goulburn,  whose 
character  is  known  rather  by  his  deeds  than  his  words,  by  his 
private  and  public  acts  of  liberality  and  beneficence,  more  than 
by  professions,  the  sincerity  of  which  might  have  to  be  sub- 


84  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

jected  to  the  test  of  experience,  and  to  whom  the  Catholics 
are  under  many  serious  obligations,  would  have  long  since 
thrown  open  the  doors  of  these  Institutions  to  Catholic  children, 
without  requiring  an  abandonment  of  their  religion,  if  he  had 
not  to  contend  with  circumstances  which  he  could  not  control. 

The  humane  and  illustrious  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane,  who 
has  bravely  fought  and  copiously  bled  for  his  Country  and  her 
religious  and  civil  rights — who  established,  on  his  arrival  here, 
full  freedom  of  conscience,  which,  even  to  the  army,  had  'till 
then,  been  denied,  and  whose  administration  has  been  dis- 
tinguished for  its  liberality,  in  a  much  higher  degree  than  any 
preceding  one,  could  not  be  supposed  to  be  unfavorable  to  such 
a  measure.  In  fact,  his  Excellency,  at  the  solicitation  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Chaplain,  condescended  to  submit  Catholic 
books,  intended  for  such  of  the  children  of  these  Institutions 
as  were  generally  known  to  be  of  Catholic  parents,  for  the 
approval  of  a  very  Reverend  Personage,  but  his  Excellency's 
mediation  has  been  rendered  abortive — they  have  been  re- 
jected. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Chaplain,  notwithstanding,  solemnly 
declares,  that  he  entertains  no  feeling  towards  that  very 
Reverend  Gentleman,  that  can,  in  any  manner,  be  incom- 
patable  (sic)  with  the  highest  regard,  esteem,  and  respect,  to 
which  his  many  amiable  qualities  eminently  entitle  him. 

Sydney,  November  10,  1825. 

The  Australian  again  came  forward  in  support  of  Father 
Therry's  claims,  and  on  29  December  published  the  follow- 
ing article : — 

From  the  tenor  of  an  advertisement  which  has  appeared 
in  our  columns  relative  to  the  Catholic  interest,  we  are  led  to 
apprehend  that  some  efforts  will  be  made  to  render  abortive 
much  of  that  liberal  policy  which  was  observed  during  the  late 
administration  towards  the  professors  of  the  Catholic  Religion. 

We  are  far  from  coinciding  in  opinion  with  those  who 
imagined  that  the  absence  of  a  Catholic  Pastor,  and  the  want  of 
a  Catholic  House  of  Worship  could  at  any  time  be  productive 
of  good,  or  that  had  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  been  sup- 
ported, all  religious  distinctions  would  have  melted  away,  and 
Catholicism  have  merged  in  Protestantism.  When  there  was  no 
Catholic  Chapel,  the  prison  population  of  the  Colony  attended 
Church.  But  how  did  they  attend?  Did  they  voluntarily,  or 
were  they  compelled,  with  the  lash  held  over  them,  in  case  of 


THE    AUSTRALIAN   AGAIN  85 

disobedience?  or  how  many  of  the  Catholic  persuasion,  who 
could  be  denominated  free  agents,  were  found  at  Church? 
It  is  not  only  contrary  to  universal  experience  that  opposition 
to  a  peculiar  form  of  worship,  or  deprivation  of  the  means  of 
worshipping,  according  to  the  precepts  in  which  people  have 
been  educated,  will  occasion  a  retractation  of  religious  doctrines 
— but  it  is  repulsive  to  a  religious  mind  to  adopt,  as  a  medium 
of  salvation,  those  rites  it  has  been  taught  to  consider  heretical. 
Convince  such  a  mind  that  it  has  been  in  error,  and  it  will 
naturally  regulate  its  worship  according  to  the  light  which  has 
broken  in  upon  it ;  but  this  we  are  very  certain  is  the  only  way 
in  which  a  change  of  religious  tenets  can  with  safety  be 
effected.  People  are  accustomed  from  their  infancy  to  cherish 
the  "outward  form"  as  much  as  the  "inward  and  spiritual 
grace ;"  and  every  sect  on  assembling  at  their  public  devotions, 
consider  their  mode  of  offering  them  up  to  their  Creator  as 
the  most  acceptable  and  propitiatory.  There  are,  indeed,  some 
minds  that  will  break  through  the  trammels  of  a  mistaken  edu- 
cation ;  that  are  as  much  removed  from  bigotry,  fanaticism,  and 
prejudice,  as  from  licentiousness  and  impiety;  that  can  reject 
the  form  and  preserve  the  essence,  of  religion  ;  that  can  worship 
the  Deity  with  equal  fervour,  sincerity,  and  efficacy,  in  a  Hindoo 
Temple,  a  Conventicle  or  a  Church,  or  in  a  field ;  can  join  with 
a  Brahmin,  a  Priest,  a  Reverend  Divine,  or  an  extemporaneous 
"Preacher  of  the  Word  of  God."  But  these  are  minds  superior 
to  vulgar  prejudices,  and  yet  minds  that  would  respect  those 
prejudices,  because  those  who  laboured  under  them  thought 
them  essential  and  as  sacred  as  their  sacred  prayers. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  none  but  such  as  know  nothing  of 
religion,  either  by  practice  or  in  theory,  would  talk  of  breaking 
down  one  faith,  by  depriving  the  followers  of  the  means  of 
pursuing  it,  or  of  setting  up  another  by  constraint  and  compul- 
sion. The  superstitions  of  any  sect  disfigure  a  religion,  and 
expose  it  to  the  attacks  of  controversialists ;  but  surely  it  is  no 
argument  for  annihilating  a  sect  altogether ;  if  it  were,  the  best 
of  them  would  stand  little  chance  of  preservation.  But  these 
considerations  have  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  public  policy,  with 
regard  to  the  Catholic  Religion  in  this  Colony.  Its  toleration  is 
recognised  by  the  English  Law,  and  its  peculiarities  are  not  to 
become  the  subject  of  discussion  in  deciding  upon  the  extent  of 
aid  it  is  to  receive.  There  are  other  grounds  upon  which  to 
proceed,  and  which  alone  can  have  weight  in  any  public  measure 
wherein  it  is  concerned. 

The    existing   state    of   the    Colony    with    respect   to    the 


86  LIFE    OF  ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Catholics,  appears  to  have  been  duly  weighed  when  the  liberal 
assistance  towards  building  the  Chapel  was  promised  and  con- 
ceded. This  arrangement  can  never  be  interfered  with,  without 
a  breach  of  faith  on  the  part  of  the  government,  and  we  will 
venture  to  believe,  that  holy  zeal  for  the  Protestant  Establish- 
ment of  the  Colony  will  never  mislead  the  higher  dignitaries 
of  the  Church  to  recommend  such  a  violation ;  and  further,  that 
no  coercive  means  will  be  had  recourse  to,  either  to  bring  the 
upgrown  into  communion  with  the  Church  of  England  service, 
or  to  effect  the  conversion  of  their  children. 

We  want  nothing  with  religious  dissensions  here.  We  wish 
to  see  all  sects  protected,  and  all  people  left  to  worship  their 
Maker  in  their  own  way.  By  this  means  alone  will  true  religion 
thrive — by  this  means  alone  will  it  take  the  place  of  heated 
intolerance,  which  is  apt  to  banish  happiness,  cordial  feeling, 
and  sanctity,  from  society. 

More  than  one  third  of  the  Colony  profess  the  Catholic 
faith,  and  if  these  be  not  allowed,  or  have  not  the  opportunity 
to  meet  in  their  Chapel,  they  and  their  posterity  may  be  ex- 
pected to  become  worse  than  heathens,  and  more  insubordinate 
than  savages. 

As  long  as  England  is  blessed  with  a  free  constitution,  and 
as  long  as  any  of  her  Colonies  have  reason  to  hope  for,  or 
possess  the  same  freedom  as  herself,  we  hope  to  see  religious 
sects  encouraged ;  but  particularly,  the  two  leading  distinctions 
among  them  of  Catholics  and  Protestants,  kept  up  with  the 
greatest  vigour.  They  are  to  the  Church,  what  Whig  and  Tory 
are  to  the  State.  They  help  to  preserve  religion  in  greater 
purity.  The  rival  Pastors  are  not  only  guardians  of  their  own 
followers,  but  they  are  a  watch  over  each  other.  On  neither 
side  dare  they  sleep  on  their  post — on  neither  side  dare  they 
become  negligent  of  their  flocks,  who  necessarily  become  en- 
lightened in  proportion  to  the  vigilance  and  exercised  energies 
of  the  Ministers  of  Grace.  We  cannot  then  regret  that  a 
Catholic  Clergyman  should  have  commenced  his  ministry  in 
this  Colony,  or  that  he  should  have  called  together  the  scat- 
tered Catholics, — because  we  neither  think  that  the  Catholics 
would  have  dropped  off,  nor  do  we  think  that  if  they  had,  the 
morals  of  the  community  would  have  been  thereby  improved, 
and  that  people  would  have  become  good  Protestants.  Had 
indeed  such  an  improbable  event  happened,  Protestantism 
would  have  been  dominant  in  name,  but  neither  the  people  nor 
the  Pastors  would  have  possessed  an  equal  degree  of  religion. 


MARRIAGE   LAWS  8< 

The  struggle  was  between  two  strong  men,  each  the  recog- 
nized spiritual  head  of  a  large  following.  On  his  first  visit 
to  Australia,  as  secretary  to  the  Bigge  Commission,  Scott 
had  been  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Catholic  priest.  Even  in 
the  stress  of  this  controversy  Father  Therry  wrote  to  his 
Bishop  that  he  had  found  much  to  admire  in  his  opponent, 
though  much  also  with  which  he  disagreed.  On  his  arrival 
as  Archdeacon,  however,  Scott  informed  Father  Therry  that 
before  leaving  London  he  had  persuaded  Dr.  Poynter  to  agree 
that  Catholic  convicts  should  attend  Protestant  service.  Father 
Therry,  in  explaining  this  to  his  Bishop,  is  charitable  enough 
to  presume  that  the  Archdeacon  had  misunderstood  Dr. 
Poynter.4 

His  language  to  the  Government  was  no  less  straight  and 
fiercely  to  the  point.  Government  did  not  like  this  method. 
Here  was  a  man  who  would  not  give  in.  He  had  introduced 
a  new  element  into  colonial  legislation.  He  overlooked  or 
disputed  utilitarian  reasons  and  party  interests.  He  asked 
whether  a  law  was  morally  justifiable.  Threats  were  of  no 
avail  where  Father  Therry  perceived  a  moral  issue. 

It  was  impossible  for  a  Catholic  priest  to  obey  the  local 
marriage  laws,  enforced  as  they  were  by  district  magistrates, 
some  of  whom  were  ministers  of  another  religion.  A  Catholic 
marriage  was  probably  the  most  difficult  contract  of  the  time. 
Father  Therry  had  often  put  his  case  before  the  authorities; 
in  1826  he  again  protested  against  the  miscarriage  of  justice. 
He  had  been  reported  for  disobeying  the  decree  of  Macquarie, 
and  in  reply  made  it  clear  that  regulations  contrary  to  the  law 
of  God  and  reason  have  no  binding  force  with  him.  He  is  will- 
ing to  resign  rather  than  sacrifice  principles  which  he  has  not 
the  right  to  deny  1 — 

Sydney,  24th  June,  1826. 
Sir, 

I  had  the  honor  on  yesterday  evening  to  receive  your 
letter  of  the  22nd  inst.  informing  me  of  a  complaint  having 
been  made  of  my  having  solemnised  a  marriage  in  the  Parish 

4  See  also  letter  in  Appendix  A,  No.  18. 


88  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

of  Windsor  between  a  Catholic  and  a  Protestant  contrary 
to  the  instruction  I  had  received  from  Major-Genl.  Macquarie 
dated  the  14th  of  October.  1820,  and  calling  on  me  by  the 
command  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor  for  an  explanation, 
and  in  reply  I  beg  to  state  that  there  have  been  but  two  mar- 
riages recently  solemnized  by  me  in  said  Parish  to  which  this 
complaint  can  possibly  refer,  and  that  in  both  cases  the  parties 
were  natives  of  the  Colony  and  married  by  me  with  the  con- 
sent of  their  Parents.  Of  this  marriage  no  person  in  my 
opinion  has  had  any  sufficient  reason  to  complain  unless  it  be 
the  Protestant  Minister  who  thereby  lost  his  fees.  But  it  is 
almost  incredible  that  a  Gentleman  who,  having  himself  pro- 
fessed the  Catholic  Faith  for  many  years,  must  know  that  a 
marriage  between  Catholics,  in  any  place  where  the  Council 
of  Trent  is  received,  as  it  is  here,  is  considered  to  be  utterly 
invalid  and  that  such  parties  invariably  consider  themselves  at 
liberty  to  separate  when  the  caprice  or  convenience  of  either 
may  require  it ;  who,  notwithstanding,  scruples  not  to  perform 
and  take  the  fees  for  such  marriages ;  should  complain  of  me 
for  having  performed  a  marriage  the  validity  of  which  he 
must  allow  and  of  the  illegality  of  which,  if  there  be  any, 
he  cannot  be  certain. 

But  perhaps  the  Revd.  Gentleman  does  not  know  that  I 
required  no  fee  at  either  of  these  marriages  altho  I  had  not 
travelled  to  the  place  where  they  were  performed  quite  free  of 
expense.  I  certainly  received  four  dollars  and  no  more  at 
each  which  it  would  have  been  an  offence  to  refuse  but  at  the 
same  time  and  place  I  had  a  Chaise,  which  cost  me  more  than 
a  half  year's  salary,  broken  to  pieces,  and  I  have  been  obliged 
to  use  a  borrowed  one  ever  since. 

With  regard  to  the  letter  of  instructions  of  Major  General 
Macquarie  I  beg  to  state  that  I  do  not  now,  that  I  never  did 
and  never  shall  consider  them  as  imperative.  I  refused  ab  initio 
to  comply  with  them  as  I  now  do,  de  novo.  I  freely  admit  that 
I  thereby  incurred  his  displeasure  and  subjected  myself  to 
the  numerous  inconveniences  which  resulted  from  it ;  but  it 
was  not  of  long  continuance,  for  having  discovered  that  my 
refusal  had  not  originated  from  a  spirit  of  disobedience,  nor 
from  any  want  of  respect  for  his  person  and  Government,  he 
received  me  again  into  his  favour  as  may  be  evidenced  by 
some  of  his  autograph  letters  now  in  my  possession,  by  his 
public  answer  to  my  address  at  the  ceremony  of  laying  the 
first  stone  of  the  Catholic  Chapel,  and  by  his  having  at  a  public 
Dinner  at  which  I  had  the  honor  of  being  present  appended 


APPEAL   TO    DARLING  89 

the  rights  of  Conscience  to  the  Arch  Bishop  of  Canterbury 
instead  of  his  usual  accompaniment  "The  Protestant  Ascend- 
ancy." The  Major  General  was  suspected  by  many  persons  to 
have  supported  the  Catholic  Religion  with  one  hand  only  for 
the  purpose  of  being  thereby  enabled  the  more  effectually  to 
undermine  it  with  the  other;  and  the  irreligious  odious  and 
unjust  system  which  is  still  upheld  by  clerical  ingenuity  at  the 
orphan  school  institutions,  and  of  which  he  was  the  Author, 
confirmed  that  suspicion.  But  altho  I  had  many  reasons  to 
believe  that  he  was  somewhat  prejudiced  against  the  Catholic 
Religion  yet  I  never  ascribed  any  of  his  actions,  even  in 
thought,  to  any  but  pure  and  honorable  motives  for  I  conceive 
that  he  had  persuaded  himself  to  believe  the  Religion  of  the 
State  to  be  that  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  partial  and  Proselytising  System  of  our  Orphan 
Schools  had  been  long  tried  in  Ireland  and  its  baneful  influence 
has  withered  the  fairest  Flowers  and  blasted  the  finest  fruits 
of  the  land:  its  unvarying  tendency  was  to  disunite,  im- 
poverish, demoralize  and  degrade.  It  paralysed  the  energies 
of  a  brave  loyal  generous  and  grateful  people  and  by  per- 
petually furnishing  cause  of  discontent  and  disaffection  held 
out  no  trivial  encouragement  for  Foreign  aggression,  and 
thereby  contributed  not  a  little  to  produce  the  awful  cala- 
maties  (sic)  of  the  many  wars  in  which  we  have  been  engaged, 
calamities  for  which  a  glorious  triumph  and  a  permanent  peace 
cannot  fully  compensate. 

May  I  therefore  be  permitted  most  respectfully  to  beg  that 
His  Excellency  Lieut.  General  Darling  whose  Government  is 
distinguished  for  its  impartiality  and  wisdom,  who  appears 
to  take  a  pride  in  protecting  the  poor  and  the  humble  from 
the  oppression  of  wealthy  arrogance,  and  in  whose  Adminis- 
tration I  hope  I  may  say  with  the  Royal  Psalmist  Mis eric ordia 
et  Veritas  obviaverunt  sibi;  justitia  et  pax  osculatae  sunt,  may 
be  graciously  pleased  to  ameliorate  this  System  or  otherwise 
to  order  that  some  means  shall  be  allowed  to  such  Catholic 
Parents  as  have  their  children  there  of  rescue  (sic)  them  from 
the  fangs  of  voracious  intolerance  from  the  Idol  of  Apostacy.5 

8  This  is  an  exact  reprint  of  Father  Therry's  much-corrected  draft, 
found  among  the  Loyola  papers.  The  version  printed  in  the  Historical 
Records  of  Australia   (xii.  545)   differs  in  unimportant  points  only. 

The  "Protestant  Minister"  mentioned  must  have  been  the  Revd.  J. 
Cross,  Anglican  Clergyman  then  in  charge  of  the  Windsor  parish;  but 
nothing  is  known  of  his  having  formerly  been  a  Catholic.  The 
"marriage  between  Catholics"  referred  to  is  one — as  the  H.  R.  version 
makes  clear — "performed  by  a  Protestant  or  Dissenting  Minister." 


90  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

The  polite  irony  of  this  letter  was  more  than  Darling 
could  stand.  He  laid  it  before  the  Executive  Council;  he  sent 
a  copy  to  England  in  a  special  despatch;  it  was,  he  wrote, 
"offensive,"  "insulting"  and  full  of  "improper  observations 
and  invectives": — 

Mr.  Therry  is  a  man  of  strong  feelings  and  not  much 
discretion.  He  is  evidently  disposed  to  be  troublesome,  and, 
constituted  as  this  community  is,  might  be  dangerous.  .  .  . 
He  is  indefatigable  in  his  endeavours  to  preserve  his  influence 
among  his  countrymen,  and  is  constantly  going  from  place  to 
place  with  this  view.    From  the  similarity  of  character,  he 

can  hardly  fail  to  succeed I  must  confess  to  your 

Lordship  that  I  have  no  desire  to  see  any  more  of  the  Clergy 
of  the  Catholic  persuasion  here.  ...  I  understand  Mr.  Therry 
is  acquiring  wealth,  and,  as  his  influence  will  increase  with 
his  means,  his  immediate  removal  appears  the  more  desirable. 
I  would  beg  to  point  out  that,  in  selecting  a  Catholic  Priest 
for  this  Colony,  it  is  most  important  that  an  Englishman 
should  have  the  preference,  the  Catholics  here  being,  I  be- 
lieve, nearly  all  Irish.6 

Comment  on  this  letter  is  unnecessary;  Darling  betrays 
himself  in  it  exactly  as  he  was.  But  one  additional  quotation 
from  his  despatches  will  help  to  complete  the  picture.  In  a 
"secret  and  confidential"  despatch  of  15  December,  1826, 
after  denouncing  with  great  vigour  E.  S.  Hall,  the  editor  of 
the  Monitor,  he  adds: — 

I  suspect  a  Mr.  Walker,  an  expelled  Wesieyan  Mission- 
ary, is  associated  with  him,  and  that  this  junta  is  completed 
by  Father  Therry,  the  Roman  Catholic  Priest!  These  People 
are  dangerous  from  their  Connexions  with  the  Convicts.7 

The  Executive  Council,  for  its  part,  condemned  Father 
Therry's  language  as  unbecoming,  and  directed  that  he  should 
be  informed  that  the  system  pursued  at  the  Orphan  Schools 
("and  to  which  he  applies  such  indecorous  epithets")  was  the 
only  one  which  could  be  adopted  consistently  with  His 
Majesty's  Instructions.    But  on  the  question  of  mixed  mar- 

6  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xii.,  543. 
''Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xii.,  762. 


MACQUARIE'S    REGULATIONS    INVALID  91 

riages,  and  Father  Therry's  refusal  to  obey  Macquarie's  or- 
ders in  their  regard,  the  Council  judiciously  "hedged" ;  it  was 
of  opinion 

that,  consistently  with  the  practice  in  England  where  it  is 
not  unusual  for  Parties,  of  whom  one  is  a  Protestant  and  the 
other  a  Roman  Catholic,  to  be  married  according  to  the  rites 
and  ceremonies  of  both  Churches,  it  does  not  appear  to  be 
expedient  at  present  to  enforce  the  injunction  of  Governor 
Macquarie  on  this  subject. 

This  was  just  as  well.  For  in  the  official  reply  to  Darling's 
special  despatch  a  new  Colonial  Secretary — Viscount  Gode- 
rich,  who  had  succeeded  Earl  Bathurst — found  himself 
obliged  to  admit  that  Father  Therry  had  been  right  all  the 
time,  and  Macquarie  wrong: — 

With  reference  to  that  part  of  Mr.  Therry's  conduct, 
which  relates  to  his  having  solemnized  a  Marriage  between 
a  Catholic  and  a  Protestant,  and  to  the  general  question  which 
arises  out  of  that  transaction  as  to  the  legality  of  such  Mar- 
riages, I  have  to  acquaint  you  that,  according  to  the  principle 
which  has  been  laid  down  in  England,  I  apprehend  that  Mar- 
riages, celebrated  by  a  Roman  Catholic  Priest  in  the  British 
Settlements  abroad,  to  which  Settlements  the  Marriage  Act, 
26  Geo.  2nd  Cap.  33,  does  not  extend,  would  be  held  to  be  a 
valid  contract. 

In  the  particular  case  in  question,  the  difficulty  appears 
to  have  arisen  from  the  Marriage  being  contrary  to  the  In- 
structions, addressed  by  the  late  Governor  Macquarie  to  the 
Roman  Catholic  Clergy,  dated  the  14  October,  1820.  But,  as 
he  possessed  no  power  of  Legislation,  he  certainly  could  not 
make  any  Law  at  variance  with  a  fundamental  principle  of 
the  Law  of  England  upon  a  subject  so  important  as  that  of 
Marriage ;  and,  therefore,  upon  the  ground  that  those  Instruc- 
tions were  illegal,  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  Roman  Catholic 
Priest  cannot  be  considered  as  having  acted  improperly,  how- 
ever disrespectful  may  have  been  the  language  of  his  refusal 
in  declining  to  adopt  them  as  his  guide.8 

Father  Therry,  for  his  part,  had  no  doubt  about  his  duties. 
His  reply  to  the  Council's  Minute  withdraws  nothing ;  he  says 
he  is  not  in  the  habit  of  making  statements  which  he  does  not 

8  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xiii.,  372. 


92  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

believe  to  be  correct.  He  is  a  priest  of  the  Church  founded 
by  God,  and  his  duty  is  to  protect  that  Church  in  Australia. 
He  is  loyal  to  King  and  Country  and  his  fellow-beings,  but 
would  not,  to  please  anyone,  compromise  a  single  essential 
principle  of  his  religion.  We  give  the  document  in  full : — 

Sydney,  24  July,  1826. 
Sir, 

Having  been  occupied  in  the  performance  of  my 
professional  duties  at  Liverpool,  Parramatta  and  Windsor  for 
the  greater  part  of  last  week,  I  had  not  till  yesterday  on  my 
return  to  Sydney,  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  18th 
instant,  in  which  you  are  pleased  to  notify  to  me  that  "His 
Excellency  the  Governor  cannot  avoid  expressing  his  surprise 
and  displeasure  at  the  injurious  opinions  I  had  so  unreservedly 
avowed  in  my  letter  of  the  24th  ult,  respecting  His  Excellency's 
conduct,  and  at  the  very  unbecoming  language  I  had  made  use 
of  in  speaking  of  the  Public  institutions  of  the  Colony,  the 
Orphan  Schools;  and,  that  no  other  system  than  that  which 
is  at  present  pursued  in  them,  and  to  which  I  had  applied  in 
my  letter  such  indecorous  epithets,  can  be  adopted  consistently 
with  His  Majesty's  instructions,  as  signified  by  his  Royal 
Letters  Patent."  In  reference,  Sir,  to  this  notification,  it  is 
my  duty  to  submit  that  it  cannot  but  excite  my  astonishment 
to  learn  that  a  Personage  of  His  Excellency's  distinguished 
endowments,  both  natural  and  acquired,  should  have  construed 
any  part  of  my  letter  into  'an  unreserved  avowal  of  the  in- 
jurious opinions  entertained  by  me  regarding  His  Excellency's 
conduct/  I  am  not,  I  beg  most  respectfully  to  state,  in  the 
habit  of  expressing  opinions  which  I  do  not  conscientiously 
feel  to  be  correct,  but  the  opinions  which  His  Excellency  has 
been  pleased  to  ascribe  to  me  I  have  never  even  once  enter- 
tained. 

With  the  Public  Institutions  of  the  Colony  I  never  inter- 
fere, except  as  far  as  they  are  connected  with  spiritual  and 
official  duties,  and  so  far  I  have  not  been,  I  can  safely  affirm, 
an  unprofitable  Servant  to  His  Majesty;  I  consider  myself  to 
have  been  much  more  profitable,  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  add, 
than  many  who  are  better  paid  for  their  services ;  but,  as  the 
utility  of  a  Catholic  clergyman  consists  principally  in  the  pre- 
vention and  not  in  the  discovery  and  punishment  of  crime, 
his  services,  however  important,  are  often  either  unnoticed 
or  undervalued.    When  His  Excellency  shall  have  recollected 


IRISH    CHARTER   SCHOOLS  93 

that  the  epithets  'abominable,'  'idolatrous'  and  'damnable'  are 
sometimes  applied  to  the  unaltered  and  unalterable  Religion 
of  the  Redeemer,  he  will  not  attach  much  blame  to  me  for 
having  applied  the  epithets  I  have  used  to  a  system  intended 
to  withdraw  the  children  of  the  poor  from  that  Religion  which 
is  the  best  inheritance  that  could  be  bequeathed,  the  only  one 
to  which  they  can  have  a  claim. 

The  lambs  are  allured  abroad,  and  forcibly  prevented  from 
returning  to  the  fold  of  the  Only  Good  Shepherd,  Christ 
Jesus,  Our  Lord,  and  must  His  humble  watchman  hold  his 
peace?  Is  he  to  be  silent?  Is  he  to  be  worse  than  a  dumb  dog? 
Is  he,  by  consulting  his  personal  interests  or  his  personal 
safety,  to  betray  his  precious,  his  sacred  trust,  purchased  as  it 
has  been  by  his  Divine  Master's  Most  Sacred  Blood  ?  No,  may 
he  through  Heaven's  Mercy  be  rather  deprived  of  his  tem- 
poral existence. 

His  Majesty  is  known,  universally  known,  to  be  a  decided 
friend  to  toleration  and  liberty  of  conscience,  as  far  as  is  con- 
sistent with  morality  and  social  order;  and  therefore  the 
Benevolence  and  rectitute  of  his  paternal  heart  would  not  per- 
mit him  to  patronise  a  System  calculated  to  alienate  from  him 
the  affections  of  a  great  portion  of  his  loyal  subjects.  The 
illiberal  Charter  Schools  of  Ireland  were  for  a  long  time 
liberally  supported  by  the  Legislature  through  an  influence 
similar  to  that  which  now  governs  our  Orphan  Schools,  and 
yet  they  are  now  pronounced  by  His  Majesty's  Commissioners 
to  have  been  in  a  great  measure  nurseries  of  disease,  ignorance, 
and  cruelty;  circumstances  of  which  neither  His  Majesty,  nor 
his  Ministers,  nor  his  Parliament,  had  any  accurate  information 
until  the  report  of  the  Commissioners.  His  Majesty  has 
been  recommended  gradually  to  withdraw  his  support  from 
these  institutions,  and  to  re-establish  them  on  better  and  more 
liberal  principles,  which  recommendation  has  been  graciously 
attended  to.  And  I  have  no  hesitation  in  asserting  that  a 
similar  recommendation  from  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
to  the  Right  Hon.  Earl  Bathurst  would  be  attended  with  equal 
success.  It  is  now  acknowledged  by  the  wisest  and  most  ex- 
perienced statesmen,  both  in  the  Ministry  and  amongst  those 
who  are  opposed  to  some  of  its  measures,  that  neither  the 
safety  nor  prosperity  of  the  State  any  longer  requires  the  aid 
of  Proselytism  from  the  Catholic  Church — the  loyalty  of 
Catholics  to  their  Sovereign  and  to  the  British  Constitution 
having  been  satisfactorily  proved  to  be  as  steady,  ardent,  and 
unqualified  as  that  of  the  people  of  any  other  community. 


94  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

I  am,  therefore,  the  more  inclined  to  believe  that  His 
Excellency  might  with  the  utmost  propriety,  and  without  any 
risk  of  giving  cause  of  displeasure  to  His  Majesty  or  my  Lord 
Bathurst, order  a  separate  Asylum  to  be  provided  for  the  orphan 
children  of  Catholic  parents,  or  at  all  events  that  His  Excel- 
lency should  allow,  or  rather  order,  a  facility  to  be  afforded  to 
the  parents,  relatives  and  friends  of  such  Catholic  Children 
as  may  be  confined  in  the  Orphan  School  establishments  to 
withdraw  them  from  it. 

During  the  last  administration,  I  had  the  honor  to  solicit 
in  an  official  letter  His  Excellency  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane  to 
order  the  abridgment  of  The  New  Testament  particularly 
adapted  to  the  capacity  of  Children  and  the  unlearned  to  be  re- 
printed for  the  benefit  of  the  Catholic  children  in  the  Orphan 
School  of  the  prisoners  of  the  female  factory,  Carter's  bar- 
racks, and  gaols;  and  to  propose  to  give  security  to  pay  half 
of  the  expense  that  should  be  incurred  by  the  due  execution 
of  the  work;  and  the  object  of  my  solicitation  was  granted  in 
an  official  communication  from  Major  Goulburn  on  the  pro- 
posed condition.  And,  on  my  having  subsequently  expressed 
a  wish  to  know  on  which  of  the  Crown  Solicitors  I  should 
wait  in  order  to  fulfil  my  part  of  the  engagement,  I  had  the 
honor  to  learn  by  another  official  communication  that  my  letter 
was  considered  by  His  Excellency  to  have  been  sufficiently 
satisfactory.  And,  as  I  have  not  since  heard  anything  regard- 
ing this  little  work,  an  apprehension  is  excited  in  my  mind 
that  this  measure  must  have  been  comprised  in  the  many 
benevolent  ones  which  His  Excellency  contemplated  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Catholics,  or  rather  for  the  advantage  of  the 
State,  and  with  which  he  was  afterwards  advised  by  a  Clerical 
Gentleman  not  to  embroil  himself,  but  to  leave  their  arrange- 
ment entirely  to  his  Successor.  I  hope  a  similar  advice  may 
not  now  be  given,  but  I  have  a  better  founded  hope  that  it 
would  not  now  be  received ;  and  I  further  hope  that  the  useful, 
the  excellent,  the  admirable  establishment  contemplated  by  the 
Governor's  Lady,  the  bare  conception  of  which,  as  it  is  pub- 
licly spoken  of,  reflects  on  her  the  highest  honour,  may  not 
be  contaminated  by  being  made,  through  any  influence  or 
advice,  the  mere  instrument  of  Proselytism. 

Lest  any  zeal  which  I  may  occasionally  manifest  for  the 
preservation  in  this  Colony  of  the  holy  religion  of  which  I  am 
but  a  very  humble  minister  should  excite  in  your  mind  a  sus- 
picion that  I  dislike  persons  of  the  other  persuasions,  I  now 
distinctly  declare  that  it  is  my  desire,  as  far  as  it  is  possible, 


DISMISSED   FROM    CHAPLAINCY  95 

that  is,  as  far  as  it  is  consistent  with  paramount  duties,  to  be 
in  peace  with  all  and  to  give  offence  to  none ;  that  I  dislike  no 
man  on  account  of  his  Religion;  that  I  respect  a  moral  man 
whatever  religion  he  may  belong  to  (some  of  my  nearest  and 
dearest  friends  and  relatives  are  protestants)  ;  that,  although 
I  wish  all  mankind  to  be  in  the  one  fold  under  the  one  Shep- 
herd, I  would  not  feel  justified  in  having  in  any  case  whatever 
recourse  to  force  or  fraud  to  induce  anyone  to  come  into  it; 
and  that  I  feel  convinced  there  are  not  many  men  who  would 
make  a  greater  sacrifice  to  serve,  please,  and  gratify  the  King 
or  His  Representative,  although  (I  avow  that)  opitulante  Deo, 
I  would  not  to  please  either  compromise  a  single  essential  prin- 
ciple of  my  Religion.  And  I  beg  to  add  that  the  man  who  would 
to  please  the  Government  abandon  the  Religion  in  which  he 
firmly  believes  could  in  my  opinion  have  no  hesitation  in  sacri- 
ficing the  allegiance  due  to  his  Sovereign  at  the  shrine  of  his 
own  interests. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

With  undiminished  respect, 
Your  obedient  humble  servant, 
(Signed)    John  Joseph  Therry.9 

Father  Therry  was  still  in  receipt  of  a  Government  salary 
of  £ i oo  per  annum.  He  may  have  guessed  that  the  document 
depriving  him  of  this  remuneration,  and  of  his  official  position, 
had  already  left  the  hands  of  Earl  Bathurst,10  or  he  may  have 
thought  that,  if  his  salary  were  forfeited,  he  would  be  at  once 
freed  from  the  heavy  shackles  that  bound  him  to  Government 

9  This  version,  which  differs  slightly  from  that  given  in  Cardinal 
Moran's  History,  is  taken  from  the  final  draft  among  the  Therry 
Papers  at  Manly.  An  earlier  draft  among  the  papers  at  Loyola  contains 
two  interesting  sentences  deleted  in  that  draft,  which  do  not  appear 
at  all  in  the  Manly  version. 

After  "temporal  existence"  (p.  93)  there  follows  a  much  altered 
passage  to  this  effect: — 

"It  is  wrong  in  my  opinion  for  the  Archdeacon"  ('that  Gentleman' 
above  the  line)  " — for  with  him  has  this  correspondence  commenced 
and  with  him  it  is  likely  to  terminate — to  place  the  entire  responsibility 
arising  from  what  I  consider,  though  he  may  not,  to  be  the  present 
bad  system  of  the  Orphan  Schools  on  His  Majesty's  Letters  Patent." 

After  "report  of  the  Commissioners"  on  the  same  page  follows : — 

"The  Orphan  Schools  in  this  colony  have  not  been  sufficiently  long 
established  to  generate  all  or  perhaps  any   such   evils." 

10  Bathurst's  despatch  is  dated  21  February,  1826,  but  did  not  reach 
Darling  till  18  November.  Dr.  Poynter  seems  to  have  written  direct  to 
Father  Therry  on  the  same  subject. 


96  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

allegiance.   At  any  rate,  he  wrote  to  the  Governor,  resigning 
his  pension  > — 

I  feel  deep  regret  in  being  obliged  to  state  that  my  situation 
has  been  rendered  so  exceedingly  difficult  and  inconvenient 
since  the  commencement  of  His  Excellency's  administrations, 
to  make  it  desirable  that  His  Excellency  would  be  pleased 
to  discontinue  my  salary,  and  to  impose  no  other  difficulties 
on  me  than  those  to  which  I  had  to  submit  under  the  late 
administration.  I  would  cheerfully  resign  my  official  situation 
if  I  could  conscientiously  do  so ;  but  at  present  I  cannot. 

His  request,  however,  was  not  granted ;  instead,  he  was 
dismissed  from  his  official  position  altogether,  on  the  ground 
(as  the  Reply  to  Judge  Burton  makes  clear)  of  alleged  dis- 
respect to  the  Protestant  clergy  shown  by  the  phrase  "quali- 
fied respect"  (see  p.  76). 

So  much  of  the  missionary's  time  had  been  taken  up  in 
written  controversy  that  little  had  been  left  for  the  completing 
of  St.  Mary's,  and  for  his  other  duties  in  town  and  country. 
Among  the  Therry  papers  is  a  letter  from  India,  written  by 
James  Dempsey,  who  had  been  collecting  money  there  for  St. 
Mary's.  He  complains  of  a  poor  reception ;  he  could  not  speak 
Portuguese,  and  the  Catholic  people  or  ecclesiastics  could  not 
speak  English.  He  had  his  letters  translated  into  Portuguese, 
but  did  not  arouse  much  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  the 
Sydney  chapel,  although  soldiers  who  had  known  Father 
Therry  in  Australia  gave  him  some  assistance.  Dempsey  was 
disheartened.  "I  took  a  horse  and  chaise  and  a  guide  to  visit 
the  Bishop,"  he  wrote.  "It  was  about  five  miles  distant  from 
Madras.  I  hoped  to  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  His  Lord- 
ship, but  as  I  could  not  speak  Portuguese  he  would  not  come 
downstairs  to  see  me.  I  sent  him  my  translation,  trying  as 
well  as  I  could  to  make  the  messenger  understand  I  wanted 
approval.  He  sent  it  down  again,  having  written  ten  rupees, 
marked  paid.  I  had  a  good  mind  to  send  them  back  again,  but 
was  unwilling  to  give  offence  or  deprive  the  funds  of  even  one 
rupee." 


THE   CHAPEL   IN    DANGER  97 

If  the  chapel  was  to  be  built,  the  money  would  have  to 
come  from  Australia.  Outside  help  was  negligible.  Even  the 
appeals  launched  locally  met  with  only  a  feeble  response.11 
The  people  were  poor,  and  had  already  given  generously  to  the 
chapel.  The  time  was  also  one  of  drought  and  impoverish- 
ment. John  O'Sullivan  gives  an  interesting  picture  of  the 
period.  "The  Catholics  are  the  poorest  portion  of  our  Aus- 
tralian community.  There  are  not  more  than  fifty  immigrants 
amongst  their  number,  and  those  are  disappointed  at  the  state 
of  the  country,  which  is  now  reduced  to  a  state  bordering  on 
beggary.  A  bullock  or  a  cow  which  would  bring  £10  or  £12 
four  years  ago  can  now  be  purchased  for  £1.  Sheep  which 
would  have  readily  sold  for  £5  a  head  a  short  time  ago  have 
been  sold  this  year  at  5s.  a  head.  Mr.  Therry  did  not  calcu- 
late on  this  great  falling  off  when  he  commenced  the  church. 
The  times  were  good  then,  and  money  was  plentiful." 

The  chapel  was  now  in  such  a  condition,  on  account  of  the 
want  of  funds  and  workmen,  that,  to  prevent  serious  loss, 
assistance  must  be  given  immediately.  As  Father  Therry  told 
the  Governor,  he  had  serious  reason  to  apprehend  "that  unless 
His  Excellency  speedily  afford  it  his  patronage,  and  very 
efficient  assistance  on  the  part  of  Government,  that  build- 
ing to  which  so  much  time,  trouble,  and  industry  had  been 
devoted,  and  on  which  so  much  money  had  been  expended, 
instead  of  being,  as  it  had  been  intended  to  be,  an  ornament 
to  the  town  and  a  source  of  spiritual  and  temporal  blessings 
to  many  of  its  inhabitants,  would,  at  no  distant  period,  be  in 
a  state  of  dilapidation,  and  anything  but  an  honor  to  the  Gov- 
ernment that  would  suffer  it  to  fall  into  ruin." 

Governor  Macquarie  had  ordered  him  as  much  stone  from 
the  Government  demesne  as  he  should  require.  Sir  Thomas 
Brisbane  had  confirmed  the  promise.  But  now  the  quarry  had 
been  given  to  private  owners ;  he  was  forced  to  buy  stone  for 
St.  Mary's,  and  have  it  carted  from  a  great  distance  at  an  extra 

11  A  ticket  for  the  raffle  of  a  gold  watch  is  among  the  Therry  papers. 
The  watch  is  said  to  be  of  "inconsiderable"  value;  the  ticket  is  priced 
at  £1,  and  the  number  of  tickets  limited  to  500. 


98  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

expenditure  of  £500.  He  had  on  various  occasions  applied  for 
carpenters ;  during  six  years  he  had  received  the  services  of 
one.  "The  walls  of  the  chapel  are  ready  for  the  roof,"  he 
writes,  "and  are  exposed  to  the  influences  of  the  weather." 
The  Governor,  in  reply,  regretted  that  Government  did  not 
possess  funds  sufficient  to  redeem  the  promise  made  by  Sir 
Thos.  Brisbane ;  but  sent  his  good  wishes  and  a  vague  promise 
of  help  in  the  distant  future. 

November  of  the  same  year  saw  the  chapel  in  worse  straits. 
Father  Therry  had  made  himself  personally  responsible  for 
£300,  and  had  not  a  penny  in  hand.  The  hostility  aroused  by 
the  "qualified"  incident  had  not  diminished.  For  years  he  had 
said  Sunday  Mass  in  the  Castlereagh  Street  Court  House — 
a  favour  granted  by  Government  "until  such  time  as  Catholics 
should  have  a  church  of  their  own."  He  was  now  warned  that 
he  could  no  longer  hold  service  in  the  building;  he  was  no 
longer  an  accredited  Government  official,  and  had  no  right  to 
offer  Mass  publicly.  The  door  of  the  Court  House  was  closed 
against  him.  Dean  Kenny,  who  wrote  whilst  these  events  were 
fresh  in  the  public  mind,  describes  the  incident.12  Father  Therry 
was  unwilling  to  yield.  He  went  to  Mr.  Wentworth,  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  and  level-headed  men  of  the  time,  who  had 
opposed  the  Governor  on  many  historic  occasions,  and  had 
suffered  for  his  courage;  he,  Father  Therry  was  sure,  must 
sympathize  with  a  priest  who  would  not  forsake  his  principles. 
"What  will  you  do?"  said  Wentworth:  "Why,  take  a  crow- 
bar and  break  open  the  door,  and  if  they  take  you  to  court 
send  for  me  and  I  will  defend  you."  So  Mass  continued  to 
be  said  weekly  in  the  Castlereagh  Street  Court  House. 

The  number  of  Catholics  in  the  colony  had  become  much 
greater  in  the  last  few  years,  and  claims  upon  Father  Therry's 
time  and  resources  were  many.  The  education  of  the  children 
was  a  problem  only  partially  solved;  there  were  schools,  but 
they  were  few  and  understaffed.  The  difficulties  that  con- 
fronted him  were  tremendous,  but  he  did  not  murmur.  To 
quote  Dean  Kenny  again : — 

"Kenny,  pp.  50-52. 


"BEREHAVEN'S"    EULOGY  99 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  trouble  Father  Therry  was  ever 
cheerful,  and  his  sorrows  only  tended  to  make  him  more 
zealous  and  laborious  for  the  cause  of  God  and  good  of  his 

fellow  man Father  Therry  was  widely  respected  by  all 

classes,  and  highly  esteemed.  When  travelling  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  sacred  duties  every  door  was  open  to  him,  and 
every  assistance  given  to  further  the  sacred  ends  he  had  in 
view.  In  disputes  the  decision  of  Father  Therry  was  accepted, 
and  oftentimes  the  matter  was  referred  to  him  for  arbitration. 
He  had  a  kind  word  and  shake  of  the  hand  for  everyone. 

The  writer  of  a  small  pamphlet13  published  in  1834  gives 
an  eloquent  tribute  to  his  worth: — 

This  is  the  man  who  has  done  so  much  for  religion  and 
who  has  been  treated  so  unworthily.  Zealous,  laborious,  and 
indefatigable,  Mr.  Therry's  labours  have  produced  their  proper 
effect;  while  Sydney,  aye,  and  New  South  Wales,  continues 
an  appendage  to  the  Apostolic  See  (as  I  trust  in  God  both 
ever  shall),  the  eternal  gratitude  which  the  Catholic  inhabitants 
of  both  owe  to  this  excellent  and  indefatigable  ecclesiastic 
cannot  be  forgotten There  is  nothing  of  show  or  exhi- 
bition, nothing  of  vanity  about  him.  Mr.  Therry  is  not  an 
occasional  preacher,  but  the  preacher  of  every  Sunday  and 
festival.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  has  frequently  known  him 
to  preach  at  Sydney  and  Parramatta  on  the  same  day.  No 
severity  of  exertion,  no  fatigue  or  want  of  preparation,  will 
induce  him  to  forego  or  omit  the  performance  of  this  sacred 
and  important  duty,  and  few  there  are  who  have  not  felt  their 
obduracy  to  relent,  their  wavering  minds  to  become  fixed,  and 
their  virtuous  resolutions  to  have  received  strength  from  the 
expressiveness  of  his  appeals.  There  was  an  instance  in  the 
success  with  which  an  appeal  of  his  was  made  some  months 
ago  in  behalf  of  the  Benevolent  Institution  of  Sydney,  at  which 
a  collection  was  made,  amounting  to  30  guineas,  almost  double 
that  collected  at  a  former  sermon,  and  considerably  more  than 
was  collected  at  any  of  the  Protestant  places  of  worship. 

To  the  little  children,  nothing  can  exceed  the  attention  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry.  During  the  administration  of  General 
Darling,  he  supported  a  male  and  female  school  mostly  at  his 
own  expense,  and  his  little  friends  in  their  turn  do  not  forget 
him.  It  is  pleasing  to  see  the  little  girls  and  boys  touch  their 
caps  and  curtsey  to  him  as  "he  goes  about  doing  good."    To 

la  "Berehaven"'  in  the  Manly  Archives ;  cf.  Cardinal  Moran's  History, 
pp.  100  sqq. 


100  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

the  poor  he  is  most  charitable  and  kind,  often  visiting  and  re- 
lieving them  at  their  houses,  soothing  their  distress  and  alle- 
viating the  sorrows  of  those  who  have  few  consolations  at 
this  side  of  the  grave.  At  the  public  hospitals  and  other 
buildings,  where  his  assistance  is  most  required,  he  is  a  daily 
visitor.  The  constant  attention  which  he  has  for  years  paid 
to  the  inmates  of  the  General  Hospital  in  Sydney  is  the  subject 
of  perpetual  remark.  It  is  not  to  the  mansions  of  the  rich  I 
would  go  and  make  my  enquiries  into  the  character  of  this 
admirable  man ;  no,  I  would  go  to  the  house  of  mourning  and 
the  habitation  of  distress ;  I  would  go  to  the  public  hospitals 
of  the  colony ;  I  would  ask  the  desolate  and  forlorn,  the  widow 
and  the  orphan,  where  they  found  friendship  and  charity.  If 
ever  there  was  a  man  whose  bones  well  deserve,  when  he  shall 
have  run  his  course,  to  have  a  tomb  of  gratitude  erected  to 
him,  it  is  the  pastor,  to  whose  virtues  I  have  paid  this  humble 
tribute  of  inadequate  applause. 

Even  then  Father  Therry  was  known  as  "the  priest  in  his 
gig" — a  phrase  that  was  to  become  a  Campbelltown  idiom  in 
later  years. 

In  those  days  the  population  of  the  colony  was  very  defi- 
nitely graded.  At  the  top  were  a  few  of  high  social  rank.  A 
fair  number  were  in  comfortable  positions  in  the  military 
forces,  or  engaged  in  business  pursuits.  The  influx  of  free 
settlers,14  which  began  to  assume  steady  proportions  after 
1820,  had  helped  to  swell  these  ranks  considerably.  But  the 
bulk  of  the  population  was  still  either  convict  or  emancipated ; 
and  the  heterogeneous  mass  required  very  careful  handling. 
Among  the  lower  classes  Catholics  were  many,  and  there  was 
only  one  priest  to  attend  to  their  wants — which  were  not  only 
spiritual.  There  was  no  one  to  further  the  claim  of  an  unruly 
assigned  servant.  If  he  had  the  misfortune  to  be  assigned  to  a 
tyrannical  master,  he  had  no  redress;  his  employer  merely 
thrashed  him,  and,  if  that  had  not  the  required  effect,  reported 
him  to  Government.  No  investigation  could  be  called  for; 
the  road-gangs  were  ready  to  receive,  with  the  same  welcome 
and  under  the  same  conditions,  both  the  unreformed  criminal 
and  the  victim  of  injustice.  In  their  difficulties  the  prisoners 
14  cf.  Northcott"s  Australian  Social  Development,  c.  ii. 


THE    CONVICTS'    FRIEND  101 

wrote  to  Father  Therry.  They  complained  that  they  were  not 
allowed  to  go  to  Mass;  they  asked  his  intercession  to  frustrate 
an  unjust  condemnation.  His  help  was  always  forthcoming. 
Often  he  convinced  the  superior  authorities  of  facts  that  com- 
pletely upset  the  verdict  of  a  county  magistrate ;  often  a  man 
sent  to  Norfolk  Island  learned  that  through  Father  Therry's 
influence  he  had  regained  his  freedom.  More  than  once  the 
hangman  waited  whilst  Father  Therry  placed  a  prisoner's  case 
before  the  Governor;  and  on  some  of  these  occasions  he  re- 
turned with  the  pardon  in  his  hands.  A  writer  in  the  Cen- 
tennial Magazine15  gives  an  interesting  sketch  of  such  an 
incident : — 

At  the  back  of  the  old  gaol  in  George  Street,  which  was 
the  scene  of  many  a  terrible  tragedy,  the  condemned  man  stood 
upon  the  scaffold  awaiting  his  doom.  Father  Therry  was 
convinced  of  the  man's  innocence,  and  extorted  from  the 
Sheriff  a  promise  that  the  execution  would  be  delayed  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour,  while  he  strove  with  the  Governor  for  a  re- 
prieve. As  fast  as  his  feet  could  carry  him  he  ran  to  Sir 
Thomas  Brisbane.  Meanwhile  the  time  was  expiring,  and  the 
gloomy  group  around  the  scaffold  awaited  in  silent  supense 
the  issue  of  the  errand  of  mercy.  The  Sheriff  had  good  faith 
in  Father  Therry's  power  to  obtain  a  reprieve,  but  the  time 
was  fast  speeding  on.  At  last,  when  the  law  was  about  to 
take  its  course,  Father  Therry  was  seen  issuing  from  the  gates 
of  Government  House,  waving  his  hat  and  holding  up  the 
reprieve.  The  Governor  thanked  him ;  and  so,  too,  will  history, 
for  having  saved  one  innocent  life. 

The  same  writer  speaks  of  the  Father's  long  missionary 
journeys  over  rough  bridle-tracks  through  ranges  and  forests 
to  which  had  fled  such  convicts  as  had  the  good  fortune  to 
escape  from  road-gangs  or  gaol.  "It  is  one  of  the  traditions 
of  these  times  that,  when  the  bushrangers  and  escaped  con- 
victs, scouring  the  bush  for  their  quarry,  as  was  their  wont, 
intercepted  Father  Therry  on  one  of  his  missionary  expedi- 
tions, so  soon  as  his  identity  was  discovered,  they  at  once  re- 
leased him,  with  expressions  of  regret  for  intercepting  his 

15  Vol.  I.  (1888-9),  p.  112. 


19 


102  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

path."   Convicts  never  forgot  the  men  who  were  kind  to  them. 

The  gaol,  overcrowded  as  it  was  with  convicts,  was  one 
of  his  chief  interests.  Day  or  night  he  was  ready  to  attend 
the  call  of  the  worst  .criminal.  His  figure,  passing  or  stopping 
to  say  a  word  of  encouragement  at  each  cell,  became  part  of 
the  daily  routine.  He  was  with  them  in  the  factory,  the  exer- 
cise-yards, and  the  road-gangs.  And  they  knew  their  man. 
Many  a  letter  was  passed  surreptitiously,  through  the  agency 
of  a  tradesman  or  an  indulgent  Catholic  warder,  to  the  hands 
of  the  Catholic  chaplain.  And  these  letters  are — to  our  sur- 
prise— in  great  part  from  Protestant  convicts,  asking  for  some 
favour  from  one  whom  they  do  not  scruple  to  call  their  dear 
friend — and  speaking  eloquently  for  Father  Therry's  worth 
and  work.  They  breathe  forth  an  atmosphere  of  trust  and  an 
appreciation  of  the  goodness  and  kindness  of  the  man  who 
gave  his  whole  heart  to  their  welfare.  Several  of  these  letters 
are  printed  in  the  Appendix.  One  we  give  here  in  facsimile ; 
but  the  blood-smeared  paper  and  the  scrawl  as  of  a  twig  dipped 
in  ink  cannot  be  properly  reproduced.  The  transcription  fol- 
lows : — 

Sydney  Goal  December  15  1826 
Reverend 

Sir  Wee  Poor  unfortunate  Men  under  the  Sentence  of 
death  is  verry  Anxous  For  you  I  hope  Sir  When  You 
Reseive  this  that  you  Will  For  God  Sake  Not  Delay  Wee  do 
not  now  the  Hour  nor  the  Moment  our  Death  Warrants  may 
come  Revd.  Sir  I  Saml  Chipp  that  is  under  Sentance  of  death 
Conserning  the  Murder  of  the  Black  Native  I  Earnestly  Wish 
that  your  Reverence  Will  make  No  Delay  For  I  am  Resolved 
to  Embrace  the  Roman  C  Faith  As  Soon  as  you  Come  to  Me. 

Sir  Wee  hope  that  you  Will  not  delay. 
Saml.  Chipp. 
Jas.  Murphy. 
John  Higgans. 

Of  letters  from  the  gaol  warders  this  is  a  specimen : — 

Revd.  Sir:  I  respectfully  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you  that 
Joseph  Lockett  is  ordered  for  execution  on  Monday  next.  He 
is  a  Protestant  but  wishes  to  die  a  Catholic,  yours  obt.  servant, 
John  Toole. 


m.    /£Cx^     ^TC^X      $CZ^     \ 


^^  ^  9^  ^6  ^U7tr_ 


t*   /Uyt&L-^     !j£s*i.-fo~T~-^    *Y  fill  t*sfc-  &C7ZZ 

LETTER  FROM   THREE  PRISONERS   UNDER   SENTENCE   OF  DEATH 


To  His  Excellency 

Major-General  RICHARD  BOURKE, 

Governor,  and  Commander  in  Chief, 
&c.  &c.  &c. 


The  Humble  Petition^  ~&c&£f  cT"^*^  2l!^S33KJ5rf 


by  the  Ship  ^#&^cl4£  —  Year  SfZf 

a  Prisoner  for  -t&^jL         * 

Dated,    *?tf    S^i<t^^a^y^y'^><^<^ 
SHEWETH,  £/  Uva 

That  your  Petitioner  is  desirous  of  being  re-united  to  the 
Family  from  which  he  was  separated  at  the  Time  of  his  Transportation, 
and  particulars  of  which  are  stated  on  the  other  side. 

That  Testimonials  are  subjoined  of  his  Ability  to  Support  his 
said  Family,  and  of  his  having  endeavoured,  by  good  Conduct,  to  merit 
this  Indulgence. 

That  he  humbly  prays,  therefore,  that  Your  Excellency  will  be 
pleased  to  transmit  to  the  Right  Honorable  the  Secretary  of  State, 
a  Recommendation  that  your  Petitioner's  said  Family  may  be  sent  to 
this  Colony  at  the  Expence  of  the  Government. 

And  your  Petitioner  will  ever  pray. 


/  certify*  that  the  Petitioner  abote-named  has  been  in  my  Service  since  the 
Month  of  J%s*+t^<*^2  —  /£lQ,-t%5    ,  and  that  during  thai   Time  his 

Conduct  has  been  such,  that  I  respectfully  recommend  his  Petition  to  the  favorable 


T 


We  severally  certify  t/iat  ice  are  noi  acquainted  with  any  Circumstance  that 
should  induce  us  to  withheld  our  Signatures  from  tlirs  Petition,  and  we  therefore 
respectfully  recommend  the  same. 


First  Clergyman  or  Magistrate. 
Second  Clergyman  m  Magistrate. 


N.  B. — This  Petition  mast  be  submitted  through  the  Prircipal  Superintendent  of  Convicts. 

APPLICATION  OF  A  CONVICT  TO  HAVE  HIS  FAMILY  BROUGHT  OUT 


Petitioner's  Standing  No. 
Namv, 

Ship,            ■ 
Year. 


'7 


Sentence, 


Wife's  Maiden  Name, 


Present  Residence,  viz. 
County,     


Parish,- 


Street,  ■ 


Children,  viz.  — 


"NAMES. 

AGES. 

— ■ 

(T7"0-&c<n-  ti^z^c^  te~c*jL*^r 

Respectable  Persons,  to  whom  Petitioner's  Family  are  known,  viz.  :— 


NAMES. 


RESIDENCES. 


MPa*at?& 


rfU**4>  of  ^^^rtc^^Ct  ~ 


fc  /6J* '/&c/&«rM<*  J%k^c~*6- 


&£<? — 


*&^/?rLJLc<s 


Prim-ed  by  R.  Mucoid,  for  tie  Ecacutort  ot  R.  How». 


ASSIGNED    SERVANTS  103 

With  a  change  of  names,  this  may  stand  for  practically  all 
the  warders'  letters.  Often  a  prisoner  could  not  write,  or 
perhaps  was  a  Protestant  and  ignorant  of  the  correct  terms  in 
which  to  address  a  priest.  He  would  seek  out  some  comrade 
in  distress,  who  would  convey  his  message  to  Father  Therry : — 

To  the  revernd  Mr.  terry.  Sir  there  one  of  the  young 
men  in  the  sells  sadley  troubled  and  wishes  to  see  you  very 
perticler  for  he  bursted  in  teers  last  night  and  cryed  out  for 
your  assistence  so  that  i  hope  you  will  come  to  his  assistence. 

John  Wall. 
The  sells — Sydney  Gaol. 

It  was  only  to  be  expected  that  a  priest  who  visited  the 
gaols  regularly,  and  who  was  ever  ready  to  give  his  utmost  in 
their  behalf,  should  be  the  one  to  whom  they  turned  in  their 
troubles. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  difficulties  imposed 
upon  assigned  servants  by  a  hard-hearted  master.  Even  their 
freedom  to  marry  depended  upon  the  will  of  their  employer. 
This  unjust  but  general  practice  is  exemplified  in  a  letter 
from  an  assigned  servant  to  Father  Therry,  informing  him 
that  "Mr.  Wills  of  George  Street  will  not  sanction  my  mar- 
riage in  consequence  of  my  being  a  useful  man  to  him,  a 
blacksmith  by  trade."  He  asks  Father  Therry  to  have  him 
assigned  elsewhere,  and  hopes  that  "there  will  be  no  obstacle 
on  account  of  my  being  brought  up  in  the  Church  of  England 
to  turn  to  the  Catholic  faith." 

It  had  frequently  been  a  futile  task  for  him  to  call  atten- 
tion to  Catholic  grievances.  Now,  when  he  was  suspended 
from  Government  recognition,  he  had  no  hope  of  success.  The 
marriage  regulations,  imposing  as  they  did  the  necessity  of 
making  application  for  permission  to  unite  parties  in  matri- 
mony, became  more  difficult  to  observe.  In  a  subsequent 
letter16  he  complains  that  lists  of  the  names  of  parties  have 
remained  unanswered  in  the  Government  offices  for  more 
than  two  months,  and  that  "the  personal  inconveniences  which 
have    resulted    from   this    delay   altho    numerous    and   great 

16  See  Appendix  A,  No.   14. 


104  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

are  not  so  much  to  be  regretted  as  the  immorality  and  crimes 
which  have  been  the  consequences  of  it." 

To  all  these  applications  and  reasonings  Government  re- 
turned the  same  answer.  The  Governor  regretted  that  Father 
Therry,  being  no  longer  a  Government  chaplain,  was  not  em- 
powered to  speak  for  the  Catholic  people,  and  was  conse- 
quently not  entitled  to  an  answer.  The  new  Catholic  Chaplain 
had  been  appointed,  and  on  his  arrival  the  matters  complained 
of  would  be  investigated. 

The  new  official  Chaplain  was  already  on  his  way  to  Aus- 
tralia. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

O  God !  that  men  would  see  a  little  clearer, 
Or  judge  less  harshly  when  they  cannot  see ! 

— Thomas   Bracken. 

The  letter  addressed  by  Governor  Brisbane  to  Earl  Bath- 
urst,  complaining  of  the  impoverished  state  of  the  Catholic 
religion  in  New  South  Wales,  did  not  wait  long  for  an  answer. 
On  the  20th  of  June,  1825,  the  following  letter  was  despatched 
from  Downing  Street: — 1 

Sir, 

I  have  received  your  Dispatch,  No.  10  of  the  28th 
October  last,  respecting  the  state  of  ignorance  to  which 
the  Roman  Catholic  Population  of  New  South  Wales  have 
been  reduced  from  the  want  of  Spiritual  Instruction,  and  of  the 
proper  place,  in  which  Divine  Worship  can  be  performed 
according  to  the  rites  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  In  con- 
sequence of  your  representations,  application  will  be  made  to 
Dr.  Poynter,  the  Vicar  Apostolic,  and  it  will  be  left  to  him  to 
select  two  Clergymen  duly  qualified  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
pensing proper  religious  instruction  amongst  the  Roman 
Catholic  Residents  in  the  Colony.  I  cannot  however  but  re- 
gret that  you  should  have  allowed  a  Building  to  have  been 
commenced,  so  disproportionate  to  the  Class  of  Communi- 
cants, as  the  Roman  Catholic  Chapel  now  erected  at  Sydney 
appears  to  be;  more  especially  as  it  would  have  been  so  easy 
for  the  Government  to  have  interfered  in  consequence  of  its 
having  advanced  a  Sum  in  aid  of  its  construction  and  of  its 
being  liable  to  be  called  upon  for  still  further  assistance  before 
the  Building  could  possibly  be  completed.  Although  it  will  be 
impossible  for  me  to  sanction  the  advance  of  the  Funds,  which 
you  state  will  be  required  for  the  completion  of  the  Chapel 
upon  the  original  plan.  I  have  no  objection  to  authorise  such 
assistance  being  afforded  by  the  Local  Government,  as  may 
admit  of  Divine  Worship  being  performed  in  it;  but  every 
other  expence,  connected  with  the  ornamental  part  of  the  build- 
ing or  its  internal  accommodations,  must,  be  left  to  the  In- 
habitants themselves  to  complete  by  voluntary  Subscriptions. 

I  have,  &c, 

Bathurst. 

1  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xi.,  670. 

105 


106  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Two  missionaries  were  duly  selected,  Father  Roger 
Murphy  and  Father  Daniel  Power;  but  for  some  yet  undis- 
covered reason2  Father  Murphy  was  prevented  from  sailing. 
Father  Power — as  we  learn  from  a  letter  of  Father  Therry's — 
reached  Sydney  on  25  December,  1826,  and  the  official  notifi- 
cation of  his  appointment  was  gazetted  on  the  3rd  of  the 
following  January: — 

His  Excellency  the  Governor  is  pleased  to  notify  that  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Power  has  been  appointed  Roman  Catholic 
Clergyman  of  this  colony,  in  the  room  of  the  Rev.  John  Joseph 
Therry. 

The  character  of  Father  Power  is  difficult  to  understand. 
Little  is  known  of  his  early  life,  but  some  information  con- 
cerning his  home  and  relatives  is  given  in  a  letter  written  by 
his  brother  from  Grenane  soon  after  Father  Power's  arrival 
in  Australia. 

I  take  the  opportunity  of  writeing  these  few  lines  to  you, 
as  you  did  not  think  worth  while  to  write  to  us,  or  to  your 
Father,  as  if  you  were  a  person  that  had  no  means,  or  had 
neither  pen,  ink  nor  paper,  what  is  plenty  with  the  loest  rank 
of  peoples  in  that  colony,  who    dayly    write    home  to  their 

friends My  Father  is  in  the  same  state  of  health 

as  he  was  when  you  saw  him ;  he  is  up  as  early  every  morning 
at  his  window  praying,  as  ever  he  was,  but  he  does  not  ride 
to  Mass  now  as  he  used.  We  have  the  second  term  of  the  farm, 
for  thirty  one  years,  for  the  same  rent  and  with  the  help  of 
God  if  we  had  a  little  assistance  we  would  do  well.  The  master 
is  giving  us  a  good  f airplay.  Pierce  and  I  are  doing  our  en- 
deavours to  forward  everything,  so  is  Ellen  ....  Pierce 
begs  of  you  send  for  him  if  you  could  get  a  situation 
for  him,  for  he  thinks  he  has  acquired  a  good  dale  of  sence. 
Richard  and  family  has  his  farm  for  the  same  rent;  William 
and  Jeffery  and  Biddy  are  well 

His  faculties,  dated  17  June,  1826,  were  granted  by  the 

2  Cardinal  Moran  (History,  p.  122)  says  "He  does  not  appear  to 
have  received  the  necessary  permission  from  his  Bishop."  But  in  the 
letter  quoted  immediately  afterwards  Father  Murphy  says  "Let  those 
who  opposed  me  answer  for  it" — which,  written  by  one  priest  to 
another,  could  hardly  apply  to  the  action  of  a  Bishop. 


FATHER    DANIEL    POWER  107 

Vicar-Apostolic  of  London  on  the  condition  that,  immediately 
upon  his  arrival  in  New  South  Wales,  he  should  ask  the 
Bishop  of  the  Mauritius  to  grant  him  approbation  and  juris- 
diction. 

Father  Daniel  Power  was  in  ill-health  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival ;  his  constitution  was  not  fitted  for  the  great  exertions 
required  of  a  missionary  in  Australia.  He  died  four  years 
later.  He  was  burdened  with  a  weak  character  that  attempted 
to  pacify  Government  rather  than  fight  for  justice  and  against 
positive  persecution.  The  arrival  of  such  a  priest  was  wel- 
come to  Governor  Darling.  Had  there  come  another  man  of 
Father  Therry's  capabilities  and  uncomfortable  habit  of  seeing 
out  disputes  to  the  bitter  end,  he  would  have  shared  the  same 
fate  as  the  priest  whom  he  superseded.  The  writer  of  the 
pamphlet  already  mentioned3  says: — 

General  Darling  and  other  enemies  of  the  Catholic  religion, 
urged  that  poor  man  to  do  things  which  in  other  circumstances 
he  would  never  have  thought  of  doing.  Their  object  was  to 
endeavour  to  weaken  the  influence  which  they  well  knew  Mr. 
Therry  possessed,  not  only  with  the  Catholics,  but  with  the 
liberal  portion  of  the  Protestant  community. 

Darling  in  a  "Private"  despatch  to  the  Colonial  Office  ex- 
plained that  he  proposed  to  favour  Father  Power  to  some 
extent,  because  it  was 

desirable  to  attach  him  to  the  Government,  and  prevent,  if 
possible,  Mr.  Therry  prejudicing  him  and  rendering  him  an 
Instrument  of  annoyance,  as  he  had  proved  himself.4 

Father  Power  came  to  New  South  Wales  at  an  awkward 
moment ;  his  position  demanded  the  utmost  care  and  modera- 
tion in  his  first  actions.  He  was  superseding  a  priest  who  had 
shown  himself  defiant  of  Government  opposition,  and  had 
thereby  incurred  its  displeasure  and  provoked  his  own  suspen- 
sion; a  priest  who  was  the  only  pastor  the  people  had  ever 
known,  who  had  fought    their    battles,  who  had  won  their 


3  "Berehaven"  ;  see  p.  99. 

*  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xiii.,  567. 


108  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

affection  in  every  way,  whom  they  would  never  disown. 
Father  Power,  on  the  other  hand,  was,  to  their  minds,  the 
representative  of  a  Government  that  had  harassed  the  Catho- 
lics, even  to  the  extent  of  injuring  their  beloved  priest.  His 
way  was  dangerous  with  many  pitfalls,  and  he  was  not  the 
man  to  walk  warily. 

He  was,  as  has  been  said,  sickly  and  incapable  of  much, 
labour;  and  in  this  connection,  too,  comparisons  were  made 
with  Father  Therry.  To  one  looking  back,  however,  over  the 
few  short  years  of  his  labours  it  is  astounding  to  see  how 
much  practical  and  lasting  good  he  effected.  He  died  in  the 
love  of  the  people. 

He  was  unfamiliar  with  the  English  language.  His  reply 
to  many  urgent  requests  from  the  Colonial  Secretary  for 
returns  of  marriages  and  deaths  was  that  it  would  be  difficult 
for  him  to  obey,  as  he  had  written  them  in  a  language  not 
understood  by  Government.  And  the  many  extant  letters  and 
sermons  written  by  him  in  the  Irish  language  and  characters 
prove  that  he  was  as  conversant  with  that  language  as  he  was 
deficient  in  English.  So  the  fiery,  practical  language  of  Father 
Therry's  sermons  gave  place  to  deliverances  in  a  heavy,  slip- 
shod style,  over-decorated  by  unusual  and  misapplied  adjec- 
tives. Some  of  his  sermons  written  in  the  unfamiliar  English 
tongue  give  a  good  indication  of  the  man,  superficial,  but 
sincere : — 

If  you  could  see  visibly  with  your  eyes — but  if  you  look 
on  this  matter  with  the  eye  of  faith  your  vision  will  be  more 
certain,  for  the  infallible  eye  of  faith  cannot  be  clouded  by 
error  or  any  optical  delusion — if,  I  say,  you  could  visibly  see 
the  wastings  and  languors  of  a  soul  confined  in  the  darksome 
tomb  of  the  body,  oftentimes  left  by  our  spiritual  brethren, 
and  burning  in  the  flame  of  perpetual  thirst,  ever  since  it  re- 
ceived its  first  infantile  suckling  from  the  baptismal  fountain, 
and  if  in  infancy  or  in  youth  it  tasted  of  this  celestial  food 
and  departed  to  subsequent  famine 

After  this  fashion  he  wrote  and  preached  to  people  used 
to  hearing  a  straight  denunciation  of  their  misdeeds,  or  prac- 
tical advice  how  to  avoid  sin  in  the  future,  delivered  briefly 


FATHER    POWER'S    SARCASM  109 

and  without  loss  of  time — for  the  discourse  must  almost  at 
once  be  repeated  at  a  church  twenty  miles  away. 

He  was  of  a  sarcastic  turn  of  mind.  Whether  the  estrange- 
ment of  the  people  was  responsible  for  this  failing,  or  whether 
it  was  a  characteristic  of  long  standing,  cannot  be  decided. 
His  letters  to  the  Governor  and  others  are  long,  tedious  docu- 
ments, permeated  with  sarcasm,  and  of  a  character  totally 
different  from  the  trenchant  appeals  and  justifications  ad- 
dressed by  Father  Therry  to  amazed  and  indignant  officials. 
Here,  for  instance,  is  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  the 
Gazette,  complaining  of  something  that  had  been  written  about 
him : — 

Sir, 

I  thought  the  little  pickpocket  in  George  Street, 
had  before  this  time,  slunk  with  shame  into  some  ignominious 
corner  and  coiled  himself  in  the  slough  of  his  factitious  de- 
basement, until  I  read  the  last  "Australian"  in  which  I  traced 
him  characterised  in  the  slime  of  asterisks,  by  falsehood 
attempting  to  confirm  his  former  perjurous  protest  that  he 
had  not  feloniously  entered  the  Chapel  House,  and  knowingly 
taken  a  transcript  of  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Revd.  Mr. 
Power. 

In  this  strain  for  four  long  pages  he  abused  a  man  to  whom 
Father  Therry  would  probably  have  given  first  some  homely 
advice,  and  then,  probably,  employment  on  his  farm  to  keep 
him  from  greater  mischief.  And  this  is  his  conclusion : — 

Now  Brother  Chipp,  take  a  friend's  advice,  now  that  you 
have  received  your  liberty,  keep  that  deposit.  In  attempting  to 
make  yourself  appear  big  with  importance  like  the  frog  in  the 
fable,  you  might  be  crushed  by  a  mighty  huff.5 

This  faculty  for  saying  commonplace  things  in  a  hurtful 
manner  soon  led  to  misunderstandings.  In  a  letter  addressed 
to  the  Benevolent  Society  Father  Power  mentions  two  items 
of  interest.  The  Benevolent  Society  appealed  annually  for 
funds  by  means  of  charity  sermons  in  every  church.  Father 
Therry  had  always  complied  with  their  wishes.  In  1827  Father 

5  See  also  Appendix  A,  No.  20. 


110  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Power,  as  the  recognized  Chaplain,  was  invited  to  assist.  His 
reply  was  that  he  could  not  preach  at  Sydney,  because  Father 
Therry  had  the  privilege  of  ministering  to  the  Sydney  Catho- 
lics in  the  old  Castlereagh  Street  Court  House;  and  he  would 
not  preach  in  Parramatta,  where  he  officiated,  because  the 
Benevolent  Society  did  not  assist  Catholic  charities.  In  a 
postscript  he  suggested  that  the  broadminded  courtesy  in 
vogue  between  Father  Therry  and  the  Benevolent  Society 
might  be  exercised  in  another  way : — 

I  beg  leave  to  request  whether  it  be  consonant  with  the 
discipline  of  your  church,  to  permit  Rev.  Mr.  Therry  to  preach 
sermons  in  your  churches  in  aid  of  the  chapel,  for  the  erection 
of  which  we  need  sufficient  means. 

Two  men  so  widely  differing  in  manners  and  position 
could  not  fail  to  fall  foul  of  one  another.  One  was  the  idol 
of  the  people's  affections,  raised  higher  in  their  esteem  because 
of  his  suspension ;  the  other  a  priest  who  did  not  thoroughly 
understand  them,  a  new-comer  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
predecessor's  labours.  The  opposition  to  Father  Power  was 
sometimes  very  marked.  He  had  told  the  people  of  Goulburn 
that  the  Christmas  dues  were  to  be  paid  to  him,  as  the  recog- 
nized Chaplain;  they  forwarded  the  dues  to  Father  Therry, 
asking  him  to  do  as  he  liked  with  them.  The  result  was  an 
agreement  by  which  Father  Power,  in  addition  to  his  salary 
and  a  further  grant  of  £100  per  annum,  shared  the  dues — 
giving  Father  Therry  the  greater  portion,  so  that  he  should 
be  less  dependent  on  the  people's  charity. 

Father  Therry  continued  to  celebrate  Mass  at  the  Court 
House  until  the  Governor  asked  Father  Power  to  carry  out 
his  duties  as  Chaplain  in  Sydney.  Then  Father  Therry  took 
over  Parramatta  and  the  neighbouring  districts.  Although 
intercourse  between  the  priests  grew  more  strained  and  af- 
fected, the  work  of  the  mission  seems  not  to  have  suffered. 
Both  men  continued  their  labours,  usually  independent  of  one 
another,  but  sometimes  coming  into  collision. 

That  old  trouble,  the  compelling  of  Catholic  convicts  to 


THE    TWO    PRIESTS  111 

go  to  Protestant  services,  was  still  a  matter  for  grave  concern. 
From  Emu  Plains  a  convict  wrote  to  Father  Power  that  the 
district  was  full  of  the  lowest  forms  of  immorality.  He  com- 
plained that  he  "is  secluded  from  his  clergy  and  is  compelled 
to  attend  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fulton  every  Sunday. 
If  one  makes  any  observations  against  going,  he  is  brought 
into  court  and  there  flogged."  It  was  useless  to  protest  to  the 
authorities ;  each  employer  was  his  own  authority,  and  usually 
pleased  himself  in  dictating  their  religion  to  his  servants. 

It  is  interesting  to  see  the  influence  that  Father  Therry 
retained  with  the  Government,  although  he  was  no  longer  a 
recognized  official.  There  is  no  break  in  the  multiplicity  and 
pointedness  of  the  letters  with  which  during  these  years  he 
inundated  the  public  offices.  He  complains  of  the  new  de- 
velopment in  the  Orphan-School  system,  by  which  pupils  are 
not  only  denied  the  rights  of  religion  whilst  inmates,  but  are 
considered  to  have  made  themselves  Protestants  for  all  time. 
The  Government  replies  that  his  letter  has  been  received,  and 
regrets  that  it  cannot  recognize  his  complaint,  since  he  has  no 
authority  to  speak.  But — because  the  authorities  knew  that 
his  influence  had  suffered  no  diminution  among  Catholics, 
and  among  many  Protestants  also — his  letter  is  forwarded  to 
Father  Power  for  a  report  on  the  matter.  In  building  the 
chapel,  the  same  procedure  is  adopted.  Father  Therry  is  not 
satisfied  with  the  slow  methods  of  his  fellow-priest;  he  asks 
the  Government  to  redeem  the  promise  made  by  Earl  Bath- 
urst,  and  to  render  the  chapel  fit  for  Divine  Service.  The 
authorities,  as  before,  ask  him  not  to  persist  in  writing  about 
matters  over  which  he,  as  a  private  citizen,  has  no  authority; 
nevertheless,  the  letter  is  forwarded  to  Father  Power  for 
report  and  a  plan  of  the  chapel.  And  Father  Power,  although 
resenting  the  interference,  is  unconsciously  made  the  instru- 
ment for  executing  the  suspended  missionary's  plans. 

The  Government  had  at  last  been  forced  by  public  opinion 
and  necessity  to    undertake    work    on    the  chapel.    Early  in 


112  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

March  the  following  advertisement  appeared  in  the  Sydney 
Gazette : — 

Persons  willing  to  complete  the  covering  of  the  roof,  build 
four  piers,  and  lay  the  flooring  of  the  Catholic  Chapel,  Hyde 
Park,  are  requested  to  transmit  their  tenders  for  the  same 
to  the  office  of  the  Chief  Secretary,  by  12  o'clock  on  Thursday, 
June  28  instant,  endorsed  "Tender  for  roof  and  flooring, 
Catholic  Church."  Payment  will  be  made  monthly  to  the  ex- 
tent of  75  per  cent,  of  the  value  of  the  work  actually  per- 
formed upon  the  certificate  of  the  Colonial  Architect,  at  whose 
office  a  plan  and  specification  of  the  work  may  be  seen. 

On  the  14th  Captain  Dumaresq,  the  civil  engineer,  wrote 
to  Father  Power: — 

Reference  being  made  to  this  office  for  particulars  con- 
nected with  the  roofing  of  the  chapel  as  advertised  in  the 
"Sydney  Gazette,"  I  shall  feel  obliged  if  you  will  furnish  me 
with  such  plans  connected  with  this  building  as  may  be  in  your 
possession,  with  the  view  to  determine  how  far  it  may  be 
expedient  to  act  upon  the  original  plan,  or  in  what  respects 
it  will  become  necessary  to  deviate  therefrom,  in  directing  the 
contracting  parties  for  this  work. 

And  Father  Power  replied  that  he  did  not  possess  any 
plans,  nor  did  he  think  that  any  definite  plan  had  ever  been 
adopted;  Mr.  Henry  Cooper,  however,  had  given  directions 
for  the  plan  of  the  roofing.  He  offered  Dumaresq  plans  of 
churches  he  had  seen  abroad,  in  which  cupolas  and  rows  of 
pillars  were  the  main  features;  and  assured  him  that,  if  the 
Government  would  complete  the  chapel,  the  congregation 
would  supply  the  furnishings  and  ornamentations. 

The  result  of  the  Government's  spasmodic  efforts  was 
described  by  Darling  in  a  despatch  of  13  August,  1827°: — 

....  Tenders  were  in  consequence  called  for,  and  those 
received  appearing  most  unreasonable,  £5,800  having  been 
demanded,  I  have  felt  it  necessary  to  decline  authorizing  the 
undertaking.  It  appears  the  Roman  Catholics  themselves  very 
properly  attribute  the  present  unfinished  state  of  the  Building 

6  Historical  Records  of  Australia,  xiii.,  503.  The  "Public  School 
House"  mentioned  is,  of  course,  the  "Castlereagh  Street  Court  House," 
which  had  ceased  to  be  a  Court  House  on  31  July  of  that  year. 


A    WEEK'S    WORK  113 

to  Mr.  Therry,  the  late  Chaplain,  whose  ostentatious  design 
has  been  the  cause  of  its  not  being  completed.  I  have  seen 
Mr.  Power,  the  present  chaplain,  who  appears  satisfied  with 
the  reasons  I  have  assigned  for  the  Government  declining  to 
complete  the  Chapel ;  and  I  am  happy  to  say  that,  as  a  means 
of  removing  in  some  degree  the  inconvenience  to  which  the 
Catholics  would  be  exposed  from  the  want  of  a  suitable  place 
in  Sydney  for  the  performance  of  Divine  Worship,  the  Arch- 
deacon has  been  so  good  as  to  allow  them  to  make  use  of  part 
of  one  of  the  public  School  Houses,  until  their  Chapel  shall 
be  in  a  state  to  afford  the  accommodation  required.  Mr.  Therry, 
who  still  continues  here  and  who  is  extremely  intemperate  and 
offensive  on  all  occasions,  is,  I  understand,  endeavouring  to 
raise  a  subscription  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  Chapel, 
but  I  should  doubt  the  possibility  of  his  obtaining  the  neces- 
sary funds.  I  should  have  stated  that  he  proposed  undertaking 
the  work  himself  on  a  reduced  scale  of  £1,200  or  £1,500  below 
the  Tenders,  which  had  been  received.  But,  as  I  was  satisfied 
this  was  merely  to  induce  the  Government  to  embark  in  the 
undertaking  in  the  hope  that  having  gone  a  certain  length  it 
would  ultimately  defray  the  whole  Expense,  I  declined  acced- 
ing to  his  proposal.  .  .  . 

On  the  29th  of  May  Father  Power  received  notification 
of  the  Governor's  pleasure  in  adding  £100  per  annum  to  the 
stipend  allotted  to  him  by  the  Home  authorities.  It  was  small 
enough,  and  hardly  sufficient  for  current  expenses.  Although 
Father  Therry  still  continued  to  do  the  greater  part  of  the 
work,  the  duties  that  devolved  on  the  official  chaplain  were 
more  than  a  man  so  weakened  by  sickness  could  satisfactorily 
fulfil.  But  Father  Therry  was  ever  at  his  post.  Another  ex- 
tract from  his  diary  gives  us  an  idea  of  his  work  at  this  time : — 

Sunday,  24th  June — Mass  at  Penitentiary  and  preached; 
Mass  at  Court  House  and  preached. 

Monday,  25th  June — Sydney,  Mass  and  visited  the  gaol. 
Parramatta,  visited  woman  since  dead. 
Tuesday,  26th  June — Parramatta   to    Windsor,    Mass    at 
Mr.  Garrigan's. 

Wednesday,  27th  June — Windsor,  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  to 
Emu  Plains. 

Thursday,  28th  June — Emu  Plains,  said  prayers  for  the 
gang,  promised  once  a  month;  South  Creek  and  Parra- 
matta. 


114  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Friday,   29th   June — Parramatta   to    Sydney.     Mass   pro 
omnibus. 

This  work  must  have  been  embittered  by  the  disabilities 
and  hindrances  placed  upon  his  energetic  labours.  He  was 
working  in  defiance  of  Government,  and  could  not  expect 
unsolicited  favours,  or  even  justice;  he  had  long  recognized 
the  futility  of  asking  that  justice  should  be  done  to  himself, 
and  now  demanded  it  only  for  his  flock.  He  contended  that  a 
person  at  the  moment  of  death  should  be  granted  a  favour, 
even  if  the  favour  asked  were  himself.  He  argued  also  that, 
because  he  was  a  validly  ordained  priest,  he  had  the  power  to 
administer  validly  the  sacrament  of  marriage.  The  Governor, 
not  having  yet  received  Goderich's  despatch,7  thought  other- 
wise. Father  Therry  had  united  in  marriage  two  people  who 
were  the  servants  of  James  Bradley.  On  5  July  the  Colonial 
Secretary  wrote  to  Bradley  demanding  the  name  of  the  officiat- 
ing clergyman.  His  reply  was: — "I  have  the  honor  to  state 
that  the  Revd.  J.  J.  Therry  performed  the  ceremony  on  the 
2nd  instant  in  my  presence."  On  16  August  this  letter  was 
forwarded  to  Father  Power,  with  the  following  memoran- 
dum:— 

Revd.  Sir, 

In  transmitting  to  you  the  accompanying  per- 
mission of  the  Governor  for  publishing  of  Banns  between  the 
several  persons  named  in  your  application,  I  am  directed  by 
His  Excellency  to  point  out  that  Daniel  O'Brien  and  Catherine 
Hennessy  are  the  Parties  respecting  whom  I  had  the  honor 
of  addressing  you  on  the  6th  Ultimo  as  having  been  married 
by  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  and  to  observe  that,  as  that  Mar- 
riage was  not  legal,  it  is  proper  that  they  should  be  Married 
again. 

The  Government's  refusal  to  recognize  any  marriages 
celebrated  by  Father  Therry  is  possibly  excusable,  if  we  admit 
the  justice  of  his  suspension  as  a  public  official.  But  it  was 
not  wise,  because  the  one  recognized  Chaplain  could  not  attend 
to  all  marriages  and  missionary  work.  It  was  intended  to 
force  Father  Therry  to  retire  from  the  country.    But  he  un- 

7  See  p.  91. 


AT   THE    SYDNEY    HOSPITAL  115 

derstood  the  tactics  of  Government,  remained,  and  continued 
to  fight  for  justice. 

The  most  serious  limitation  of  his  rights  was  the  refusal  to 
allow  him  to  visit  the  sick  and  dying  in  gaols  and  hospitals. 
This  order  had  been  issued  in  general  terms  by  the  Govern- 
ment, and  would  have  been  capable  of  a  benign  interpretation 
and  urgent  exceptions,  but  for  the  bigoted  opposition  of  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Sydney  Hospital.  Dr.  Bowman,  though 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the  history  of  this  institu- 
tion, had  no  regard  for  Catholics  in  general,  and  a  particular 
hatred  against  Father  Therry.  The  attention  given  to  the  hos- 
pital by  Father  Power  was,  his  fellow-priest  thought,  not 
sufficient;  his  health  and  the  multitude  of  his  other  public 
duties  did  not  enable  him  to  render  adequate  service.  Further, 
on  many  occasions  a  person  dying  in  the  hospital  would  call 
for  the  priest  who  had  been  a  firm  friend,  possibly  his  only 
friend,  for  so  many  years;  yet  when  the  friend  sought  ad- 
mittance he  would  be  turned  away.  Early  writers  record 
many  instances  of  Father  Therry's  perseverance  and  ingenuity 
in  obtaining  entrance  to  the  hospital.  He  had  been  called  to  a 
dying  person,  only  to  find  the  bayonet  of  a  guard  blocking  his 
way.  He  pushed  aside  the  bayonet  and  entered.  On  another 
occasion  he  asked  the  guard  if  he  were  willing  to  take  the 
death  of  the  person  on  his  own  shoulders:  "It  is  not  in  the 
name  of  the  Government  I  come  here,  but  in  the  name  of 
God."  The  guard  lowered  his  bayonet,  and  Father  Therry 
passed  on.  On  a  third  occasion  the  guard  blocked  his  way  as 
usual;  he  sent  the  soldier  to  bring  the  assistant-surgeon  to 
him,  and  in  his  absence  entered  and  administered  the  last  sac- 
raments— receiving  from  the  guard  on  his  return  the  answer 
that  he  was  to  be  refused  admission. 

Such  dangerous  intolerance  could  not  be  allowed  to  con- 
tinue without  protest.  He  wrote  to  the  Governor  frequently, 
at  first  begging,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  be  allowed  to  retain 
the  right  of  preparing  a  soul  for  its  eternal  destiny ;  later,  he 
heaped  anathemas  upon  a  Government  that  had  proved  itself 


116  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

so  unchristian  as  to  deny  this  greatest  of  all  religious  rights : — 

Sir, 

Although  I  received  as  great  a  personal  insult  as 
any  civilised  man  can  be  supposed  capable  of  offering  to  an- 
other, whilst  I  was  endeavouring  to  discharge  my  duty  as  a 
Catholic  Priest  in  one  of  the  public  hospitals,  by  administering 
the  rites  and  consolations  of  religion  to  a  poor  man  nearly 
in  his  last  agony,  but  perfectly  in  possession  of  his  mental 
faculties;  and  although,  that  insult  has  been  followed  up,  on 
the  part  of  the  person  that  had  offered  it,  by  secret,  and  in 
my  opinion  wilful  and  deliberate  misrepresentation,  yet  I  am 
reluctant  to  trouble  you  Sir,  with  any  complaint  or  application 
for  satisfaction  or  redress.  I  shall  feel  fully  justified  if  His 
Excellency  be  pleased  to  approve  of  the  opinions  which  I 
now  take  the  liberty  to  submit: — 

ist.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent,  or  of  the 
wardsmen,  or  nurses,  in  each  of  the  Government  Hospitals,  on 
learning  from  the  Surgeon  that  any  person  therein  is  in  proxi- 
mate danger  of  death,  to  enquire  if  he  want  the  assistance 
of  a  Clergyman;  and,  if  he  do,  to  send  for  him  without  any 
unnecessary  delay. 

2ndly.  That  if  any  person  whose  disease  may  become  sud- 
denly and  imminently  dangerous,  even  at  night,  should  beg  for 
the  assistance  of  a  Clergyman,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  wards- 
men  immediately  to  acquaint  the  Superintendent,  and  of  the 
latter  promptly  to  dispatch  a  messenger  for  one. 

3rdly.  That  the  Clergyman  on  his  arrival  may  reasonably 
require  that  the  bed  of  the  patient  to  whom  he  is  called,  may 
be  removed  to  a  short  distance  from  the  other  patients,  in 
order  that  he  may  with  more  security  and  confidence  consult 
with  and  receive  advice  from  his  Spiritual  director,  and  that 
the  latter  may  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  applying  his  ear 
to  the  mouth  of  the  dying  man. 

/fthly.  That  common  decency  requires  there  should  be  a 
screen  in  each  ward,  which  might  be  formed  of  a  few  bat- 
tens and  a  piece  of  coarse  canvas,  and  which  might  occasion- 
ally serve  to  form  a  sort  of  inclosure  for  the  Clergyman  and 
his  penitent. 

$thly.  That  it  would  be  highly  indecorous  for  any  person, 
however  elevated  he  may  consider  his  situation  to  be,  to 
obstruct  an  inoffending  Clergyman  in  the  performance  of  his 
already  sufficiently  unpleasant  duties,  at  any  of  the  Hospitals, 
at  whatever  hour  of  the  day  or  night,  he  may  be  called  thereto ; 


DR.    BOWMAN'S    ORDERS  117 

but  more  especially  to  insult,  menace  and  assault  him,  without 
the  shadow  of  reason  or  provocation. 

These  suggestions  were  surely  reasonable,  and  only  what 
common  decency  required.     Again: — 

Chapel  House,  Hyde  Park, 

22nd  January,  1828. 

Sir, 

On  my  return  from  a  visit  which  I  had  to  pay 
a  sick  person  at  a  late  hour  last  night,  I  learned  that  a  mes- 
senger had  been  here  to  request  the  Rev.  Mr.  Power's  or  my 
attendance  on  a  person  in  danger  of  death  in  the  General  Hos- 
pital, who  was  most  anxious  to  see  either  of  us ;  and  as  I 
did  not  know  whether  the  danger  was  imminent  or  not,  I  felt 
it  to  be  my  duty  to  immediately  proceed  thereto  in  order  to 
make  the  inquiry;  and  there  it  was  again  signified  to  me,  that 
the  orders  which  Dr.  Bowman  had  given  to  exclude  me  from 
the  hospital  were  not  withdrawn,  and  of  course  I  could  not 
expect  to  be  admitted  then  or  at  any  other  hour.  If  Dr. 
Bowman  cherishes  a  vindictive  feeling  towards  me,  he  surely 
should  not  be  permitted  to  indulge  it  at  the  expense  of  the 
patients  in  the  King's  Hospital. 

Dr.  Bowman  cannot  assert  that  it  is  because  I  am  no  longer 
a  Government  chaplain,  I  am  not  allowed  to  attend  my  Catholic 
parishioners  when  on  the  voyage  to  eternity,  for  he  attempted 
to  exclude  me  when  I  acted  as  such.  The  following  circum- 
stances are  so  relevant,  that  I  will  take  the  liberty  briefly 
to  mention  them  here.  About  eighteen  months  ago,  a  con- 
stable came  from  the  hospital  on  a  Sunday  night  whilst  I  was 
celebrating  evening  service,  and  told  me  the  moment  it  was 
over,  that  a  poor  man  who  was  exceedingly  ill  in  the  hospital 
and  not  likely  to  survive  till  the  following  morning,  most 
anxiously  wished  for  the  benefits  of  the  Sacraments  before 
his  departure.  I  proceeded  to  it  forthwith ;  and  as  it  was 
then  rather  late,  and  I  was  aware  that  Dr.  Bowman  had  given 
orders  to  the  servants  never  to  admit  me  after  sunset,  to  pre- 
vent any  blame  being  attached  to  the  latter  for  admitting  me, 
I  personally  waited  on  that  gentleman  to  solicit  permission  to 
attend  the  dying  man.  He  said  he  was  not  aware  that  any  one 
of  the  patients  was  dangerously  ill,  and  that  he  would  accom- 
pany me  to  the  ward  in  order  to  ascertain,  and,  having  seen 
the  man,  he  pronounced  him  to  be  in  a  dying  state.  I  then 
requested  him  to  order  the  bed  of  a  patient,  who  lay  very 
near  the  person  whom  I  had  come  to  attend,  to  be  removed 


118  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

to  a  little  distance,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  hear  his  private 
confession.  He  replied,  "There  is  no  occasion,  as  that  man  is 
deaf."  I  then  asked  the  deaf  man  his  name  in  rather  an 
undertone,  and,  on  his  immediately  answering  me,  I  told  the 
Doctor  he  could  hear  as  well  as  himself,  and  entreated  him  to 
order  his  bed  to  be  removed  to  a  short  distance.  He  still  re- 
fused, and  said  that  my  penitent  was  insensible.  I  assured 
him  that  the  contrary  was  the  fact,  and  the  poor  man  proved 
my  assertion  to  be  correct.  He  had  then  the  politeness  to  ask 
me  if  I  were  sober,  and  I  replied  that  if  a  scrutiny  were  to 
take  place  as  to  the  moral  character  of  each,  that  mine  would 
not  suffer  by  the  comparison,  and  added,  that  I  had  hundreds 
of  witnesses  who  had  attended  Divine  service  on  that  evening, 
as  well  as  the  two  persons  (one  of  them  a  free  settler  of  un- 
tainted reputation,  the  other  a  strictly  honest  man),  who 
accompanied  me  from  the  chapel  to  the  hospital,  to  rebut  his 
insinuations.  He  then  told  me  to  quit  the  hospital,  and  I  re- 
fused to  do  so  till  my  duty  should  have  been  performed.  He 
then  called  in  two  constables,  and  said  to  them,  "Put  him 
out  l"  "Put  him  out !"  They,  however,  had  the  decency  and 
good  sense  not  to  make  a  breach  of  that  peace  which  our  Lord 
insures  to  the  humble  as  well  as  to  the  great,  to  the  feeble 
as  well  as  to  the  mighty,  and  of  which  they  were  subordinate 
conservators :  and  in  spite  of  his  annoyance,  I  heard  the  con- 
fession and  administered  the  rites  of  religion  to  the  poor  man ; 
and  he  expired  a  few  hours  after. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice,  or  His  Majesty's  Premier,  or  His 
Majesty  himself,  would  shrink  from  the  idea  of  excluding  the 
greatest  criminal  at  the  hour  of  his  death  from  access  to  his 
clergyman.  And  yet,  Dr.  Bowman,  relying  on  the  influence 
he  thinks  he  derives  from  the  considerable  fortune  he  has 
realised,  and  the  respectable  connections  he  has  formed,  will, 
without  any  fear  of  responsibility,  doom  persons  charged  with 
no  crime  except  that  for  which  they  have  atoned  to  the  laws 
of  their  country,  by  the  loss  of  their  liberty,  to  a  privation  of 
so  cruel  a  nature,  that  those  laws  will  not  permit  even  a  mur- 
derer to  be  subjected  to  it. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

To  the  Hon.  Alexander  McLeay, 
Colonial  Secretary. 


DR.    BOWMAN   AGAIN  119 

The  next  day  he  was  forced  to  complain  again : — 

It  becomes  my  duty  to  have  the  honour  to  inform 
you  that  another  person  died  last  night,  at  His  Majesty's 
General  Hospital,  without  the  benefit  of  the  Holy  Viaticum, 
which  he  frequently  within  the  last  few  days  most  earnestly 
craved  to  be  allowed  to  receive  from  my  hands.  This  most 
afflicting  grievance,  and  most  cruel  and  unnecessary  privation, 
has  been  the  consequence,  I  am  informed,  of  an  order  given 
to  the  porter  of  the  hospital  by  Dr.  Bowman,  not  to  admit 
me  into  it  at  any  hour  even  in  the  absence  of  my  brother 
clergyman.  If  a  professed  infidel  were  to  give  such  an  order, 
it  might  not  surprise  or  astonish,  but  that  a  gentleman  who 
professes  to  be  a  Christian  should  give  it,  is  to  me — at  least 
it  would  be  to  a  stranger  in  the  colony — most  unaccountable. 
To  Dr.  Mitchell,  the  Assistant  Surgeon,  a  gentleman  who  is 
exceedingly  attentive  to  his  professional  duties,  and  who  is 
under  a  sort  of  necessity  of  acting  according  to  the  directions 
of  his  principal,  no  blame  whatever  is  to  be  attached.  His  late 
Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  York,  as  His  Excellency  must 
be  aware,  would  have  severely  reprimanded,  if  not  cashiered 
a  field  officer  for  such  an  act  And,  is  it  to  be  supposed  that 
His  Majesty  or  his  Government,  or  the  British,  and,  thank 
Heaven,  a  Christian  Parliament,  when  this  conduct  shall  have 
been  regularly  submitted  to  their  consideration,  can  approve 
of  it,  or  permit  of  its  recurrence  with  impunity?  I  am  not 
ignorant  of  the  danger  I  incur  by  exposing  this  abuse  of 
authority  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Bowman,  even  to  the  Govern- 
ment, for  I  have  reason  to  know  that  his  hostility  is  seldom 
without  effect.  Whatever  may  be  the  opinions  of  persons  much 
better  qualified  than  I  am  to  judge  of  his  aptitude  for  the 
several  situations  he  holds,  I  would,  abstractedly  from  my 
duty  of  vindicating  the  cause  of  the  oppressed,  feel  a  pleasure 
in  serving,  and  none  whatever  in  injuring  him.  I  trust,  there- 
fore, sir,  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  believe  that  in  thus 
addressing  the  local  Government,  I  am  not  actuated  by  vin- 
dictive or  any  other  improper  motives. 

The  Government's  reply  was,  not  to  remedy  the  injustice 
he  complained  of,  but  to  assure  him  that  his  exertions  were 
futile  :— 

Rev.  Sir, 

I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  and  submit  to 
the  Governor  your  two  letters  of  the  22nd,  and  23rd,  of  this 


120  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

month,  and  am  directed  by  His  Excellency  to  inform  you  that 
the  Government  cannot  permit  of  your  interfering  in  any  way 
with  the  public  establishments.  I  am  also  directed  to  add  that, 
as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Power  is  the  only  acknowledged  Roman 
Catholic  clergyman  in  this  colony,  the  Government  must  de- 
cline receiving  representations  from  you. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Rev.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

Alex.  McLeay. 
This  rebuff  was  enough  to  dishearten  any  ordinary  man. 
But  Father  Therry  had  been  used  to  such  trials  for  eight 
years ;  he  would  not  act  as  the  Government  wished ;  he  would 
not  resign.  Some  years  later  it  was  conceded  that  any  patient 
who  asked  for  Father  Therry  personally  might  be  allowed  to 
see  him.  Meanwhile,  he  had  still  to  put  forward  the  claims 
of  his  people  for  liberty  of  conscience  at  the  hour  of  death. 
In  the  last  month  of  1828  he  wrote: — 

To  deny  to  a  dying  Christian  an  opportunity  of  receiving 
the  sacred  rites  and  consolations  of  religion  is  not  to  be  con- 
sidered as  a  matter  of  little  moment,  yet  it  has  been  done  more 
than  once  in  His  Majesty's  General  Hospital.  Dr.  Bowman, 
the  principal  surgeon,  of  whose  unkind  interference  I  have 
had  frequent  occasion  to  complain,  has  again,  I  am  informed, 
directed  that  I  should  not  be  admitted  into  the  General  Hos- 
pital, and  I  have  accordingly  been  again  excluded  from  it. 
One  Catholic  has  departed  this  life  in  the  General  Hospital 
since  this  very  inconsiderate  order  was  given,  and  many  more 
will  have  to  contend  with  the  tremendous  terrors  of  the  last 
awful  hour  without  being  fortified  against  them  by  those 
soothing  consolations  which  religion  alone  can  impart. 

Again,  on  11  March,  1829,  he  wrote: — 

It  is  painful  to  me  to  have  to  inform  you  that  in  conse- 
quence of  a  private  Government  order  by  which  I  am  excluded 
from  the  hospitals,  another  unfortunate  man  was  last  week 
doomed  to  depart  this  life  without  the  consolations  of  religion. 

In  these  skirmishes  with  the  authorities  he  did  not  receive 
any  assistance  from  the  recognized  Chaplain.  The  differences 
between  the  two  priests  seem  to  have  developed  into  more 
serious  antagonism.  Father  Therry's  energetic  and  impetuous 
nature    could    not   countenance   the    easy-going   methods    of 


REGRETTABLE    FRICTION  121 

Father  Power.  His  own  enjoyment  of  good  health  prevented 
him  from  taking  account  of  the  obstacle  which  the  Chap- 
lain's weakly  constitution  opposed  to  his  greatest  desires. 
Father  Power,  too,  knew  what  Father  Therry  thought  of  him. 
He  knew  that  he  did  not  possess  the  affection  of  the  people 
in  the  same  measure  as  Father  Therry,  whose  unflinching 
patience  under  continuous  persecution  made  him  the  popular 
idol.  The  estrangement  eventually  led  to  a  correspondence, 
interesting  and  pathetic  when  the  two  sides  of  the  matter  are 
understood,  between  Father  Therry  and  the  Government  on 
the  one  hand,  and  Father  Power  and  the  Government  on  the 
other.  Father  Power  had  postponed  a  sick  call — for  just  cause, 
as  his  explanations  show.  Father  Therry  reported  the  case. 
Father  Power's  justification  gives  a  true  picture  of  the  man, 
misunderstood,  incapable  of  understanding,  broken-hearted  by 
sorrow,  and  fast  approaching  the  time  of  his  death.  On  n 
August,  1829,  the  Colonial  Secretary  wrote  to  Father  Power: — 

Reverend  Sir, 

In  transmitting  you  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter 
from  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  representing  that  from  his  ex- 
clusion from  the  gaols,  the  Factory  and  the  Hospital,  an  unfor- 
tunate Catholic  has  been  denied  the  rites  of  his  religion,  I  am 
directed  by  His  Excellency  to  request  that  you  will  let  me 
know  what  individual  is  here  alluded  to,  and  what  were  the 
circumstances  of  the  case. 

The  enclosed  letter  reads  as  follows: — 

Parramatta,  7th  July,  1829. 
Sir, 

Having  this  moment  learned  that  another  victim 
had  been  recently  added  to  the  number  of  those  unfortunate 
Catholics,  who  have  been  illegally  denied  the  rites  of  their  re- 
ligion, in  consequence  of  a  regulation  made  by  His  Excellency, 
Governor  Darling,  to  exclude  me  from  the  Gaols,  the  Fac- 
tory and  Hospitals,  I  feel  myself  imperatively  called  upon  to 
bring  this  matter  once  more  under  the  notice  of  the  Governor, 
at  the  risk  of  renewed  persecution,  but,  still  with  the  hope  that 
His  Excellency's  humanity,  of  which  I  am  convinced  he  is  not 
destitute,  may  induce  him  to  rescind  it.  I  firmly  believe  that  His 


122  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Excellency  did  not  even  partially  foresee  the  many  fatal  evils 
that  have  resulted  from  this  regulation,  when  he  ordered  it 
to  be  made.  I  derive  neither  pleasure  nor  advantage  from 
opposing  or  condemning  any  measure  the  Government  may  be 
pleased  to  adopt;  on  the  contrary,  I  assure  you  Sir,  that  I 
should  feel  happy  to  be  enabled  with  a  safe  conscience  invari- 
ably to  support  its  measures  and  abide  by  its  regulations. 

I  have  &c, 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

Fortunately  Father  Power's  explanation  is  preserved.  We 
should  hesitate  to  reproduce  it,  if  the  reader  had  not  already 
become  familiar  with  this  priest's  character,  so  as  to  be  capable 
of  understanding  what  might  appear  a  spiteful  pettiness,  and 
of  pardoning  the  whims  of  a  man  broken  in  spirit  and  in 
health.  Father  Therry 's  impulsive  nature  is  also  shown  in 
an  exhibition  of  temper  which  he  regretted  later. 

D.  Power,  near  the  Buffs  Hospital. 

Sir, 

I  have  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  dated  the 
nth.  Inst,  intimating  His  Excellency's  desire  to  know  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  statement  gratuitously  asserted  by  Revd. 
Mr.  Therry  in  a  letter  of  which  a  copy  was  given  on  the  contra 
page. 

The  twp  cases  to  which  he  makes  allusion  can  be  disproved 
by  Doctor  Anderson — with  whom  I  had  a  conversation  on 
those  occasions — and  also  by  his  overseer  whom  at  the  time 
interrogated  on  the  matter.  On  the  evening  that  I  received  a 
letter  from  the  Hospital — intimating  the  dangerous  state  in 
which  the  patient  was — I  arranged  for  the  morning,  and  accord- 
ingly arrived  in  the  morning  at  9  o.c. — when  I  was  informed 
he  had  departed  this  life — two  hours  after  the  letter  was  writ- 
ten— contrary  to  their  expectations,  in  consequence  of  a  sudden 
change  in  his  illness.  As  to  the  second  case  Dr.  Anderson  and 
Mrs.  Gordon  can  give  a  similar  explanation.  And  likewise  re- 
specting the  gaol — his  services  there  must  in  future  be  dispensed 
with,  in  consequence  of  an  assault  committed  by  him  on  me  at 
the  last  execution  which  he  attended — and  for  which  he  now 
lies  under  censures  and  suspension — "percussio  clerici" — 
"suspensio  ipso  facto/'  His  insidious  indirect  projects  to  un- 
dermine me  are  as  powerless  as  they  are  false,  and  must 
terminate  in  a  defeat.  He  has  rallied  round  him  the  Australian 
and  Monitor,  and  now  finding  himself  fettered  in  the  shackles 


"PECCAVI"  123 

of  ecclesiastical  censures  he  cries  out  and  attempts  by  male- 
volent insinuations  of  neglect  of  duty  on  my  part  to  mitigate 
the  merited  disapprobation  of  the  Government — And  this  pre- 
cisely at  the  institution  in  which  he  had  become  disqualified 
by  an  act  of  agression — and  sacraligously  officiating  contrary 
to  the  canonical  mandates  of  the  Tribunals  of  the  church.s  It 
is  very  extraordinary  that  his  letter  was  written  on  the  day  of 
the  execution  on  which  occasion  he  committed  the  assault.  That 
he  was  in  a  perturbed  state  of  mind  is  evident  from  the  ex- 
pression of  it  As  soon  as  I  will  return  from  Newcastle  I  am 
determined  to  lay  before  the  Judges  depositions  sworn  to  that 
effect,  so  that  when  he  makes  invidious  applications  within  the 
courts — for  Mr.  Therry's  attendance  (which  they  avow  to  have 
been  done  in  opposition  to  Government)  the  judges  will  have  it 
in  their  power  to  refuse  the  malicious  request — and  assign  the 
reason  that  he  on  the  last  occasion  disqualified  himself  by  a 
breach  of  the  peace  in  that  gaol. 

If  there  had  been  in  the  colony  any  other  priest  to  whom 
Father  Power  could  have  gone  for  advice,  it  would  probably 
have  been  explained  to  him  that  Father  Therry  had  not  in- 
curred excommunication,  since  the  necessary  condition — 
"suadente  diabolo" — was  wanting.  At  Father  Power's  death 
(soon  after  this  episode),  all  his  correspondence  came  into 
Father  Therry's  hands.  It  was  then  that  he  learned  for  the 
first  time  of  Father  Power's  violent  rejoinder,  and  the  unhap- 
piness  which  his  exhibition  of  temper  had  caused  to  the  sickly 
priest.  The  full  meaning  of  the  accusation  came  home  to  him. 
He  took  his  pen  and  under  the  word  "assault"  he  wrote  another 
word.   The  word  is  there  to  this  day — Peccavi. 


3  He   seems   to   have   assumed   that    Father   Therry's    "assault"    had 
ipso  facto  brought  excommunication  upon  him. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Why,  O  Lord,  are  they  multiplied  that  afflict  me?  Many  are  they 
who  rise  up  against  me.  .  .  .  But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  protector, 
my  glory,  and  the  lifter  up  of  my  head. 

— Ps.  III. 

About  this  time  Father  Power  was  informed  that,  as  Gov- 
ernment Chaplain,  he  must  reside  in  Sydney.  He  did  so, 
officiating  at  the  old  Court  House.  But  Father  Therry's  work 
in  Sydney  did  not  cease,  though  he  regularly  officiated  in 
Parramatta  and  its  districts,  and  continued  his  duties  wherever 
he  was  needed. 

By  his  departure  to  Tasmania  in  the  first  years  of  the 
mission,  Father  Conolly  had  not  altogether  lost  his  position 
of  seniority  and  (to  some  extent)  authority  over  Father 
Therry.  He  was  still  the  local  head  of  the  Church;  so  to 
him  Father  Power  sent  a  statement  of  his  difficulties,  know- 
ing that  Father  Conolly  would  fully  appreciate  a  position 
which  he,  when  in  the  colony,  had  found  insupportable.  Father 
Conolly  was  sympathetic.   He  wrote  from  Hobart : — 

Rev.  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  to  acknowledge  your  letter,  the  subject 
of  which  gave  me  great  concern  but  did  not  surprise  me,  for 
(considering  the  knowledge  I  have  of  Mr.  Therry's  disposition, 
to  which  you  have  adverted  so  plainly  without  mentioning  his 
name  that  I  could  not  mistake  you),  I  expected,  at  least  to 
hear  some  account  like  what  you  have  told  me.  As  affairs  can- 
not last  very  long  in  such  a  state,  your  good  sense  will  direct 
you,  in  the  mean  time,  to  exercise  great  prudence  and  caution 
in  the  discharge  of  your  duty  as  well  as  in  every  other  matter 
you  may  be  concerned  in. 

I  expected  you  had  been,  from  the  time  of  your  arrival, 
perfectly  aware  that  Mr.  Therry  possessed  no  authority  over 
you — having  identified  yourself  so  much  with  him  must  have, 
in  a  considerable  degree,  involved  or  harassed  you.  In  future 
you  will  for  your  guidance  consider  yourself  exempt  from 
any  pretended  authority  in  him  over  you,  and  not  responsible 
to  him,  in  the  least  degree,  for  any  act  of  yours. 

124 


"IN   JOURNEYING   OFTEN"  125 

In  spite  of  these  strained  relations,  the  two  priests  con- 
tinued to  attend  strictly  to  the  wants  of  the  Catholics  in  the 
colony.  The  schools  at  Parramatta  and  Sydney  were  doing 
good  work  in  educating  the  young  to  be  good  Catholics  and 
good  citizens.  Their  returns  of  attendance  sent  in  by  the 
teacher,  Bridget  Dwyer,  give  the  names  of  85  children  who 
attended  1089  weeks  from  July  to  September,  and  of  88  child- 
ren who  attended  1144  weeks  from  September  to  December, 
1830.  For  her  work  as  teacher  she  was  paid  by  Government 
at  the  rate  of  twopence  per  week  for  each  child. 

The  work  in  the  gaols  and  among  the  convicts  was  a  severe 
strain  upon  the  energies  of  both  priests.  Constant  attendance 
was  necessary.  Notifications  similar  to  the  following  were 
frequently  sent  to  Father  Power: — "I  lose  no  time  in  com- 
municating to  you  that  the  five  men  named  in  the  margin  are 
to  be  executed  at  Maitland  on  Tuesday."  The  journey  to 
Maitland  was  not  a  small  matter;1  it  took  fifteen  days  of  con- 
stant work  to  perform  this  duty.  By  special  concession  of 
the  Governor,  the  Chaplain  was  allowed  fifteen  shillings  per 
diem  as  remuneration  and  to  cover  expenses;  but  Father 
Therry,  who  performed  similar  duties,  was  not  so  fortunate. 
The  ban  against  him  had  now  been  lifted  to  the  extent  that, 
if  a  dying  person  asked  for  his  services,  the  request  could  be 
granted.  One  such  person,  about  to  be  executed,  asked  for 
his  attendance  at  Maitland.  He  traversed  the  one  hundred  and 
thirty  miles  of  unfrequented  bush  tracks ;  but  on  return,  when 
he  asked  the  Government  for  a  refund  of  his  expenses,  it 
was  refused  him.  The  same  year  he  was  called  to  Bathurst 
on  a  similar  errand,  and  was  treated  in  a  similar  manner. 

Father  Thierry's  enforced  removal  to  Parramatta  gave  an 
opportunity  for  further  Government  restrictions.  His  first 
attempt  to  celebrate  Mass  in  this  locality  brought  back  mem- 
ories of  bitter  days,  for  which  he  had  tried  to  persuade  him- 
self that  the  Government  was  beginning  to  make  amends.  He 
addressed  a  complaint  to  the  Governor: — 

As  soon  as  I  learned  that  his  Excellency  had  directed 
1  Cf.  letter  in  Appendix  A,  No.  21. 


126  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

the  Revd.  Mr.  Power  to  leave  Parramatta  and  reside  in 
Sydney,  I  made  an  arrangement  with  the  Catholic  inhabitants 
of  that  town,  to  perform  Divine  Service  for  them  on  at  least 
every  alternate  Sunday,  and  having  accordingly  celebrated 
Mass  on  two  Sundays,  I  was  told  by  the  local  Superintendent 
of  Convicts  that  he  had  received  letters  from  the  Government 
directing  him  to  exclude  me  from  the  large  room  in  which 
Divine  worship  had  been  performed.  Since  the  time  of  that 
interruption  the  Catholic  inhabitants  of  that  town,  during  an 
interval  of  about  four  months,  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of 
hearing  any  religious  instruction  on  the  Lord's  Day.  His  state 
of  health,  however  zealous  he  may  be  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  will  not  permit  the  Revd.  Mr.  Power  to  celebrate  Mass 
both  in  Sydney  and  in  Parramatta  on  the  same  morning,  as  I 
was  accustomed  to  do  for  many  years.  In  a  community  of 
well  conducted  persons,  I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  inquire,  on 
that  account,  and  because  I  have  not  had  the  good  fortune  to 
please  in  the  discharge  of  what  I  considered  to  be  my  sacred 
duty  the  Head  of  the  Protestant  Church,  why  they  should  be 
subjected  to  so  severe  a  privation,  and  some  of  them  doomed 
as  they  have  since  been  to  depart  this  life  in  the  Hospital  and 
Female  Factory,  without  the  rites  of  their  Holy  Religion. 

An  extract  from  his  diary  for  1830  shows  the  extent  of  his 
ministrations  throughout  the  colony: — 

Monday,  18th  January — Visited  the  General  Hospital. 
Tuesday,  19th — Received  of  Peter  Fagan  for  Chapel,  £1 ; 
left  Sydney  for  Parramatta;  thence  to  Seven  Hills;  slept 
at  Kelly's. 

Wednesday,  20th — From  Kelly's  to  Windsor;  attended 
in  Windsor  Gaol  three  unfortunate  men  under  the  sen- 
tence of  death.  Received  of  Richard  Fitzgerald  for  St 
Mary's,  £10. 

Thursday,  21st — Married  at  Richmond  John  Donovan 
and  Mary  Nowlan. 

Friday,  22nd — Left  Richmond;  called  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Windsor.  Heard  of  death  of  young  Nolan,  who 
had  died  previous  night.  Received  plenary  indulgence. 
Visited  Lawlor,  an  old  man  living  in  a  skilling  in  the  back 
street ;  heard  his  confession.  Visited  the  six  men  under 
sentence  of  death.  Left  Windsor.  Called  at  Mr.  Long's, 
Parramatta,  and  Mr  McCabe's,  Sydney. 
Saturday,  23rd — Mass  at  Chapel  House;  visited  Hospital. 


ROGER   THERRY   ARRIVES  127 

Sunday,  24th — Started  for  Parramatta;  said  Mass  at  Mr. 
Nash's.  Returned  to  Sydney ;  Mass  in  St.  Joseph's  Chapel2 
pro  omnibus.    Nothing  received  at  door. 

Meanwhile  events  were  happening  in  England  which  were 
to  have  a  large  influence  on  the  Church  in  Australia.  The 
year  1829  was  of  great  importance  to  the  Catholics  of  Eng- 
land, for  during  it  they  were  given  official  recognition  of  their 
right  to  exist,  and  allowed  to  compete  with  their  fellow-beings, 
without  compromising  the  demands  of  conscience;  and  early 
in  the  next  year  the  benefits  conferred  by  the  English  Act 
were  legally  extended  by  Acts  of  Council  to  the  Catholics  of 
New  South  Wales  and  Van  Diemen's  Land.3 

Towards  the  end  of  1829  there  arrived  in  Sydney  one  who 
not  only  raised  the  social  standing  of  the  Catholic  Church  in 
the  colony,  but  by  an  unflinching  adherence  to  Catholic  prin- 
ciples, and  by  identifying  himself  with  every  movement  on  its 
behalf,  placed  the  Church  in  so  secure  a  position  that  the 
Government  at  last  began  to  give  it  consideration,  and  even 
favour.  This  was  Roger  Therry,  who  came  out  with  the  ap- 
pointment (from  the  Home  Government)  of  Commissioner 
of  the  Court  of  Requests,  and  remained  in  Australia  from 
1829  till  1859,  during  which  time  he  also  occupied  the  posi- 
tions of  Attorney-General,  Resident  Judge  of  Port  Phillip, 
and  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  South  Wales.  His 
ardent  work  on  behalf  of  Catholic  Emancipation  in  England, 
and  his  position  as  Secretary  to  the  "National  Society  for  the 
Education  of  the  Poor  in  Ireland,"  eminently  qualified 
him  for  the  task  of  raising  up  the  struggling  Church  in  Aus- 
tralia. Father  Therry  heard  the  good  news  from  an  influen- 
tial friend  in  the  Excise  Office  at  Dublin,  who  wrote:— "Mr. 
Therry  will  no  doubt  prove  a  great  acquisition  to  the  Colony, 
as  he  distinguished  himself  in  his  College  course,  and  though 
yet  but  a  very  young  man,  has  established  a  reputation  for 


2  See  Note  at  end  of  chapter. 

'For  New  South  Wales,  by  10  Geo.  IV.  No.  9  (passed  18  January, 
1830)  ;  for  Van  Diemen's  Land,  by  10  Geo.  IV,  No.  6  (passed  20 
January,  1830). 


128  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

high  literary  attainments  and  true  principles  of  patriotism. 
He  is  a  near  relative  of  the  celebrated  Edmund  Burke,  and 
has  established  a  literary  connection  with  the  celebrated  orator 
and  Statesman,  the  late  George  Canning,  by  giving  to  the 
world  the  biography  of  that  great  man." 

In  his  Reminiscences  Roger  Therry  writes : — 4 

If  there  be  any  circumstance  connected  with  my  long  resi- 
dence in  New  South  Wales  that  may  entitle  my  name  to  a 
favourable  remembrance,  it  is  the  effort  I  made  to  rescue  my 
co-religionists — the  Roman  Catholics — from  the  subordinate 
position  in  the  political  and  social  scale  to  which  they  and  their 
ancestors  at  home  had  been  doomed,  and  to  which  the  circum- 
stances in  which  I  found  them  abroad  foreshadowed  they  were 
destined. 

His  name  is  still  remembered  as  he  wished. 

On  his  arrival  in  Sydney  Roger  Therry  was  surprised  at 
the  poverty  of  the  Catholic  people.  There  were  not  in  the 
whole  colony  when  he  arrived  half  a  dozen  Catholic  families 
of  the  "gentry."  When  Mrs.  Therry  wore  a  bonnet  to  Chapel, 
the  congregation  was  amazed  and  disturbed;  no  Catholic  had 
ever  appeared  so  richly  dressed.  The  constant  influx  of  Irish 
"rebels"  had  created  a  considerable  Catholic  population;  but 
only  a  small  part  of  it  was  free,  and  every  office  of  importance 
was  filled  by  members  of  other  religious  denominations.  One 
result  was  that  £19,000  of  public  money  was  granted  to  the 
Anglican  community,  and  but  £800  to  the  Catholics,  although 
their  numbers  were  nearly  the  same.  Roger  Therry  determined 
to  have  this  altered.  There  was  little  chance  of  achieving  his 
aims  by  action  on  the  spot;  he  invoked  the  aid  of  influential 
men  in  England,  who  had  fought  and  won  the  battle  of 
Catholic  Emancipation.  Mr.  Blount,  member  for  Steyning, 
who  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  Liberal  Administration, 
was  asked  to  do  his  best  for  the  Catholics  of  Australia;  and 
his  efforts  were  finally  crowned  with  success. 

Roger  Therry  himself  entered  whole-heartedly  into  the 
plan  of  campaign  suggested  by  Father  Therry  for  the  ameliora- 

4  P.  144- 


FATHER   THERRY'S    WELCOME  129 

tion  of  Catholic  social  conditions,  and  was  always  ready  to 
help  him  with  advice  and  with  the  influence  due  to  his  ability 
and  position,  as  well  as  with  hard  cash: — 

Sydney,  December  24/'2(). 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  assure  you  I  have  never  done  an  act  in  my  life 
with  more  complete  gratification,  than  I  feel  now  in  transmit- 
ting to  you  £50  towards  the  erection  of  the  Catholic  Chapel. 
T  wish  this  sum  to  be  accredited  in  the  following  manner : — 
R.  Therry,  H.M.  Commissioner  of  the  Court  of 

Requests  for  N.S.W £25 

Mrs.  Therry £15 

Miss  Ann  Huskisson  Therry £10 

The  advantage  of  providing  a  suitable  place  of  worship 
for  the  large  contingent  of  Catholics  which  our  country  con- 
tributes to  the  population  of  this  colony  is  obviously  most  im- 
portant. To  cheer  the  depression  of  exile,  and  to  aid  in  the 
redemption  of  character,  there  can  surely  be  no  more  power- 
ful and  efficacious  instrument  than  the  consolation  and  the  in- 
fluences of  religion.  Your  most  meritorious  exertions  to  erect 
a  temple  worthy  of  the  glory  of  God's  worship,  and  adequate 
to  the  wants  of  the  community  in  which  you  live,  entitle  you 
to  the  gratitude  of  every  Catholic,  of  every  Christian,  and  of 
every  friend  of  religion  and  education  throughout  the  civilized 
world.  May  that  God  whom  you  serve  with  such  fidelity  and 
zeal  prosper  your  beneficent  design,  and  reward  your  pious 
labours. 

Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir, 
Yours  faithfully, 

R.  Therry. 

Father  Therry's  reply  depicts  the  effect  on  the  Catholic 
community  of  a  co-religionist's  appointment  to  high  office: — 

Chapel  House,  Sydney, 

26th  Dec.  1829. 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  avail  myself  of  the  first  moment  of  leisure 
allowed  me  at  this  busy  season,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  of  the  24th  instant,'  enclosing  donations  of  £50. 
For  these  donations  as  well  as  for  the  kind  sentiments  conveyed 
in  your  letter,  I  consider  you  entitled  not  merely  to  mine  which 
are  of  little  value,  but  to  the  thanks  of  the  Catholic  community, 


1: 


130  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

to  whom  except  as  to  character  you  are  yet  a  stranger.  I  have 
invariably  thought  with  you  that  the  benign  and  salutary  influ- 
ence of  Religion  communicated  by  proper  Ministers  and  in 
suitable  places  of  worship,  would  afford  the  most  effectual 
means  of  stemming  the  great  and  rapid  tide  of  immorality, 
which  if  not  speedily  checked  will  overwhelm  the  Colony. 

I  am  sure  my  dear  Sir,  that  were  you  to  make  a  candid 
representation  to  the  B.  Government  of  the  moral  and  physical 
state  of  the  Catholics  of  this  colony,  destitute  of  places  of 
worship,  ministers  of  religion,  and  the  means  of  providing 
even  the  rudiments  of  education  for  their  poor  children,  the 
evils  of  which  we  now  have  much  reason  to  complain  would  be 
soon  remedied.  The  Catholics  of  the  Colony  notwithstanding 
all  the  evils  to  which  they  have  been  submitted  are  truly  loyal, 
but  surely  it  would  not  be  unwise  to  nourish  this  loyalty  by 
the  adoption  of  measures  calculated  to  create  confidence  and 
excite  gratitude.  Sir  George  Murray  whom  all  parties  venerate, 
has  already  contributed  by  your  appointment  to  that  situation, 
for  which  by  your  integrity  and  talents  you  are  so  well  quali- 
fied, to  dissipate  the  gloom  which  has  hung  over  their  minds, 
and  through  the  false  medium  of  which  they  apprehended  that 
they  and  their  children  were  to  be  made  victims  of  a  policy 
which  is  at  last  exploded. 

Father  Therry  used  the  opportunity  now  given  him  the 
more  readily,  since  Roger  Therry  was  willing  to  forward  his 
claims.  Thirty  years  later  the  friendship  was  still  unclouded 
by  any  misunderstandings.  Father  Therry's  appreciation  of 
all  that  the  Commissioner  had  done  for  the  Church  is  shown 
in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Therry  in  1858,  in  which  he  tells  her  that 
"it  will  be  a  consolation  to  you  to  know  that  I  did  not  forget 
to  celebrate  this  morning  for  your  intention,  and  that  I  have 
not  omitted  for  thirty  years  to  make  a  daily  memento  of  the 
Plunkett's  and  Therry's  at  the  altar." 

Father  Power,  who  had  continued  to  perform  his  duties 
to  the  best  of  his  ability,  died  suddenly  on  the  14th  of  March, 
1830.  At  his  death  it  was  found  that  he  had  left  debts  amount- 
ing to  £300 ;  these,  with  a  part  of  the  funeral  expenses,  were 
settled  by  the  Catholic  community,  who  had  realized  at  last 
that  certain  features  of  Father  Power's  character  which  they 
could  not  understand  were  due  to  the  ailments  of  a  broken 


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LETTER   FROM   ROGER  THERRY   TO  FATHER   THERRY— FAMILY   NEWS 


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CATHOLIC    EMANCIPATION  131 

man.  His  remains  were  removed  in  later  years  from  the  old 
Devonshire  Street  cemetery  to  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  where 
they  rest  to-day  under  an  altar  tomb. 

So  Father  Therry  was  again  alone  in  the  vast  territory 
that  formed  his  parish. 

The  hopes  of  the  Catholics  of  New  South  Wales  had  been 
raised  to  a  high  level  of  expectation  by  the  passing  of  the 
Emancipation  Act  in  England  and  its  almost  immediate  ap- 
plication to  the  colony.  Many  Protestants,  moreover,  were  still 
as  sympathetic  with  Catholics  as  at  the  time  of  the  laying 
of  the  foundation  stone  of  St.  Mary's ;  and  it  was  felt  that  any 
public  protest  against  the  unjust  system  under  which  Catholics 
were  labouring  would  have  more  weight  if  its  initiative  and 
execution  were  in  the  hands  of  prominent  Protestant  citizens. 
By  the  expression  of  their  sympathy  a  new  movement  was 
launched.  On  5  February,  1830,  Edward  Wollstonecraft  ad- 
dressed the  following  letter  to  Father  Therry: — 

My  dear  Sir, 

I  have  seen  Mr.  McArthur  on  the  subject  of  the 
new  Protestant  committee  for  the  aid  of  our  Catholic  Brethren. 
He  very  handsomely  has  agreed  to  take  upon  himself  the  office 
of  Chairman  of  that  Body,  and  joins  me  in  requesting  that  you 
will  furnish  us  with  the  names  of  15  or  20  gentlemen  from 
whom  may  be  selected  an  additional  3  or  5,  as  may  be  thought 
most  proper,  so  as  we  may  render  such  Committee  respectable 
and  efficient. 

The  movement  was  taken  up  with  great  enthusiasm.  There 
were  many  who,  like  Chief  Justice  Forbes,  were  all  the  more 
enthusiastic  in  the  cause  because  they  were  embittered  against 
the  Governor  and  his  despotic  administration.  The  wording 
of  a  petition  to  the  Governor  was  the  next  concern.  It  would 
not,  the  petitioners  considered,  be  of  any  service  to  Father 
Therry's  cause  to  renew  his  disavowal  of  the  mistake  by 
which  the  printer  had  made  him  express  "qualified  respect"  for 
the  Anglican  clergy.  It  would  be  wiser  to  apologize  for  what 
did  actually  appear  in  print,  and  to  adopt  the  attitude  of  the 
man  who  considers  himself  to  have  been  sufficiently  punished, 
and  now  promises  amendment.  On  these  lines  the  petition  was 


12a 


132  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

drawn  up,  and  signed  by  several  of  the  principal  officers  of  the 
Government,  by  thirty-seven  magistrates,  and  fourteen  hun- 
dred professional  men,  merchants,  and  householders. 

The  petition  is  dated  March,  1830,  and  reads  as  follows: — 

To  His  Excellency  Lieutenant-General  Darling, 
Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  and  over  the 
Territory  of  New  South  Wales  in  Council. 

The  respectful  Memorial  of  the  undersigned  Magistrates, 
Merchants,  Land  and  Householders, 
Sheweth, 

That  in  respectfully  inviting  your  Excellency's  attention 
to  this  Address  respecting  the  Roman  Catholic  Chapel  in  Hyde 
Park,  we  deem  it  our  first  duty  to  convey  to  your  Excellency, 
as  the  Representative  of  our  Gracious  Sovereign,  the  expres- 
sion of  our  congratulation  and  joy,  that  our  beloved  Royal 
Master,  guided  by  the  light  of  his  own  generous  mind,  and 
that  of  the  best  and  ablest  of  his  councillors,  has  knit  together 
the  hearts  and  affections  of  all  his  subjects,  and  has  con- 
solidated the  strength  of  the  Empire,  by  combining  them  under 
the  comprehensive  appellation  of  an  equal  and  united  People. 

That  this  recent  act  of  policy  and  of  justice,  we  sincerely 
feel  to  be  one  of  the  most  auspicious,  wise  and  useful  measures, 
that  have  been  passed  under  the  sanction  of  a  Gracious  King; 
within  the  short  space  of  whose  illustrious  reign,  glorious  and 
brilliant  events  have  been  concentrated,  which  are  usually  scat- 
tered over  a  century  of  time. 

That  impressed  with  a  due  sense  of  the  beneficent  designs 
intended  to  be  promoted  by  the  great  measure  of  political 
equalization  to  which  we  have  adverted,  we  beg  leave  to  ex- 
press our  respectful  hope  and  confidence,  that  under  your 
Excellency's  auspices,  this  rising  and  important  Colony  may  be 
made  a  participator  in  the  act  of  Royal  favour  and  Legislative 
concession,  which  all  just  and  liberal  men  regard  with  appro- 
bation;  and  which  has  filled  the  hearts  of  all  his  Majesty's 
Roman  Catholic  subjects  with  sentiments  of  affectionate  grati- 
tude and  devoted  fidelity. 

We  beg  leave  respectfully  to  suggest  to  your  Excellency, 
that  any  encouragement  which  your  Excellency  may  be  pleased 
to  extend  towards  the  completion  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Chapel 
in  Hyde  Park,  would  be  most  acceptable  to  the  numerous  body 
of  that  religious  persuasion  in  this  Colony; — and  we  further 


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APPLICATION  FOR  GOVERNMENT  ASSISTANCE  IN  BUILDING  ST.  MARY'S 


PETITION    TO    DARLING  133 

respectfully  represent  to  your  Excellency,  that  besides  being 
grateful  to  the  feelings  of  that  community,  an  additional  in- 
ducement to  that  encouragement  may  be  found  in  their  increas- 
ing number,  and  increasing  want  of  an  edifice  worthy  the 
glory  of  God's  worship,  and  suitable  to  the  pious  purposes  of 
religious  rites  and  Christian  instruction. 

In  conclusion,  we  deem  it  right  to  state  to  your  Excellency, 
that  the  Roman  Catholic  Chapel  has  arrived  at  its  present  state 
of  forwardness  through  the  zealous  exertions  of  the  Reverend 
John  Joseph  Therry ;  and  by  means  of  the  subscriptions  which 
the  members  of  his  own  flock,  and  other  liberal  and  opulent 
persons,  were  induced  to  contribute,  from  a  confidence  in  his 
moral  worth,  a  respect  for  his  talents,  and  for  the  purity  with 
which  he  devoted  those  talents  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
community  of  which  he  is  a  Pastor.  From  the  authorized 
assurance  which  we  have  received  of  that  Reverend  Gentle- 
man's regret,  that  any  document  published  by  him  should  have 
given  offence  to  the  late  Venerable  Archdeacon  of  this  Colony, 
and  from  the  respect  and  confidence  which  we  know  he  con- 
tinues to  enjoy  among  the  members  of  his  own  religious  per- 
suasion, we  respectfully  confide,  that  circumstances  of  bye- 
gone  difference,  and  topics  of  unpleasant  discussion,  may  be 
forgotten,  and  that  such  circumstances,  and  such  topics,  may 
be  no  bar  to  such  assistance  as  your  Excellency  either  may  have 
power  to  influence,  or  disposition  to  extend,  towards  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Roman  Catholic  Chapel ;  without  which  assist- 
ance we  apprehend,  that  instead  of  being,  as  it  might  be,  a 
Temple  of  piety,  and  an  Edifice  combining  ornament  and 
utility  in  an  eminent  degree,  it  will  become  a  ruin. 

The  subjoined  signatures  include  those  of  Alexander  Bax- 
ter, the  Attorney-General;  Sir  John  Jamison;  R.  Wardell, 
LL.D. ;  Roger  Therry ;  Gregory  Blaxland ;  and  many  others.5 

The  petition  never  reached  Governor  Darling,  but  was 
subsequently  presented  to  Governor  Bourke,  and  by  him  for- 
warded to  the  home  authorities.  From  a  letter  written  by  John 
O'Sullivan  we  learn  that  the  request  for  the  reinstatement 
of  Feather  Therry  was  rejected  by  Lord  Stanley,  the  Colonial 
Secretary.  Still,  the  petition  was  not  fruitless,  for  it  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  success  of  Mr.  Blount's  efforts  in  Lon- 
don. 

5  The  complete  list  of  signatures  is  given  in  Appendix  B. 


134  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

After  Father  Power's  death  Government  was  compelled 
to  countenance  the  ministrations  of  Father  Therry.  He  was 
the  only  priest  for  many  thousands  of  Catholic  people.  Roger 
Therry  petitioned  Government  that  the  priest  be  re-appointed 
official  chaplain,  and  was  told  that  Father  Therry  would  be 
allowed  unrestricted  admission  to  the  hospitals  and  gaols,  and 
could  act  generally  as  chaplain;  but  on  no  account  would 
Government  give  him  any  remuneration  for  the  work  thus 
permitted  to  be  done.  Even  this  half-hearted  recognition  was 
only  temporary,  and  would  continue  only  until  another  chap- 
lain should  reach  the  colony.  He  must  understand  that  the 
grant  of  the  favour  did  not  imply  re-appointment. 

During  this  interval,  however,  the  priest  received  more 
kindly  treatment  from  the  Government.  After  so  many  let- 
ters of  bitter  disappointment  at  refusals,  it  is  pleasant  to  find 
one  couched  in  terms  of  thanks  for  favours  received.  On  17 
September,  1830,  he  wrote  to  the  Colonial  Secretary : — 

Dear  Sir, 

I  feel  much  gratified  in  having  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  letter,  by  which  I  am  informed  that  His 
Excellency  has  directed  that  I  should  be  accommodated  with 
the  loan  of  such  Carpenters,  Stonemasons  and  Sawyers  as  can 
be  conveniently  spared,  to  enable  me  to  finish  and  secure  the 
walls  and  roof  of  the  Chapel,  and  also  with  the  use  of  a 
Government  team  to  draw  some  heavy  timber  to  the  chapel 
ground  from  the  harbour.  And  I  beg  leave  Sir,  with  great 
sincerity  to  assure  Flis  Excellency  that  for  this  act  of  kindness 
I  feel  exceedingly  grateful,  and  more  especially,  as  I  confidently 
look  on  it  as  a  prelude  to  the  extension  of  still  greater  favours 
to  His  Majesty's  loyal  Catholic  subjects. 

The  Government  was  growing  so  magnanimous  that  it 
occasionally  wished  to  grant  more  than  he  asked.  The  old 
trouble  of  too  much  work  for  one  chaplain's  attention  was 
again  asserting  itself.  The  convicts  could  not  be  given  Mass 
every  Sunday  at  each  institution;  so  Father  Therry  applied 
to  Government  to  appoint  a  catechist  (approved  by  himself) 
to  read  Catholic  prayers  on  these  days.  The  Government  pro- 
ceeded to  seek — luckily  in  vain — for  a  man  capable  of  per- 


FATHER    DOWLING   ARRIVES  135 

forming  "Divine  Service."    Father  Therry  wrote  at  once  to 
dissuade  the  authorities  from  any  such  .quest : — 

Sir, 

With  reference  to  your  letter  of  7th  inst.  it  may  be 
necessary  for  me  to  state  in  explanation  that  I  did  not  presume 
to  suggest  that  any  person  should  be  authorised  by  His  Excel- 
lency to  perform  "Divine  Service"  for  any  portion  of  the 
Catholic  community.  Divine  Service  in  the  general  acceptation 
of  the  term  among  Catholics  means  the  celebration  of  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  New  Law,  which  can  be  performed  only  by  him 
who  has  received  Holy  Orders,  and  possesses  Jurisdiction.  The 
Pope  could  not  authorise  even  one  of  His  Cardinals  to  celebrate 
the  Mass  if  he  had  not  previously  the  Order  of  Priesthood. 
The  Government  Office  which  I  requested  to  be  created  is 
similar  to  that  of  Catechist  in  the  Protestant  Church,  and  is 
much  more  required  by  Catholics  than  by  Protestants  who 
possess  a  considerable  number  of  zealous  ministers,  schools, 
places  of  worship  and  an  abundance  of  Religious  literature. 


On  20  September,  1831,  the  official  notification  of  a  new 
appointment  was  gazetted : — 

His  Excellency  the  Governor  directs  it  to  be  notified  that 
the  Revd.  Christopher  Vincent  Dowling  has  been  appointed 
Roman  Catholic  clergyman  of  this  colony,  in  the  room  of 
the  Revd.  Daniel  Power,  deceased. 

Father  Dowling  was  an  Irish  Dominican  of  considerable 
ability,  and  a  somewhat  remarkable  preacher.  He  needed  all 
the  talents  he  possessed,  if  he  were  not  to  shatter  his  ambitions 
on  the  rock  that  had  wrecked  his  predecessor.  He  supplanted 
Father  Therry ;  and  by  this  very  fact,  though  he  was  uncon- 
scious of  it  and  not  responsible  for  it,  he  was  in  danger  of 
forfeiting  the  sympathy  of  the  Catholic  community.  His  only 
safe  course  of  action  was  to  recognize  the  long  standing  and 
influence  of  his  fellow-priest,  to  express  sympathy  in  his  diffi- 
culties, to  gain  his  affection,  and  so  win  the  love  of  the  people. 
He  took  the  wrong  course,  and  the  difficulties  that  arose  in 
Father  Power's  time  were  once  again  evident.    The  middle 


136  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

course  pursued  by  Father  McEncroe,  who  arrived  a  few  years 
later,  and  the  subsequent  taking  over  of  the  government  of  the 
Church  by  Dr.  Ullathorne,  in  the  end  remedied  these  difficulties. 
Father  Therry  was  beginning  to  feel  the  strain  on  his 
health,  and  to  despond  just  as  when,  six  years  earlier,  he  had 
sent  in  his  resignation  to  his  Bishop.  Then  the  reply  was,  "If 
you  quit,  who  will  attend  to  the  vineyard?"  and  he  had  stayed 
on.  Now  the  conditions  were  changed.  There  was  another 
priest  to  take  his  place.  His  own  presence  here,  he  began  to 
realize,  was  a  hindrance  rather  than  a  help  to  the  Church.  A 
few  weeks  previously  he  had  been  deprived  again  of  Govern- 
ment recognition,  and  another  was  managing  the  house  he 
had  built  with  such  difficulties.  In  this  depressed  state  ot 
mind  he  addressed  the  Government : — 

Chapel  House,  8th  Oct.,  183 1. 

Sir, 

As  the  principal  objection  I  had  to  accepting  Earl 
Bathurst's  allowance  of  three  hundred  pounds  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  my  passage  to  England,  is  now  removed  by  the 
arrival  of  a  clergyman  in  whom  both  the  Government  and  the 
people  may  safely  place  confidence,  and  as  it  is  now  my  in- 
tention to  avail  myself  of  an  early  opportunity  to  proceed  to 
that  destination,  I  have  to  beg  that  His  Excellency  will  order 
that  sum  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  Commissioner  Therry 
as  a  trustee,  in  order  that  it  may  be  applied  by  him  for  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  intended  by  that  nobleman  or  be 
returned  to  the  Colonial  funds  if  not  required  within  a  time 
specified  by  His  Excellency. 

The  late  Mr.  Power  who  succeeded  me  as  Government 
Chaplain  on  the  25th  December,  1826,  having  been  incompetent 
in  consequence  of  a  continued  state  of  ill  health,  to  discharge 
any  considerable  portion  of  the  duties  of  that  office,  I  had  to 
perform  until  the  day  of  his  demise  14th  March,  1830,  the 
greater  and  more  laborious  part  of  them ;  and  from  that  day 
until  the  17th  ultimo  when  the  Rev.  C.  V.  Dowling  arrived,  the 
whole  of  those  duties  devolved  on  me.  In  common  courtesy 
a  liberal  compensation  should  be  allowed  me  by  the  Govern- 
ment in  consideration  of  my  troubles,  labours  and  other  im- 
portant public  services  during  the  former  period,  but  in  honour 
and  justice  they  are  imperatively  bound  to  compensate  me  for 
those  of  the  latter. 


LETTER    FROM    BISHOP    SLATER  137 

He  had  asked  too  much.  The  Government  policy  was  to 
forget  all  about  Father  Therry,  if  that  happy  state  of  mind 
were  possible.  He  received  no  reply.  He  could  not  leave  the 
colony  without  Government  assistance.  Although  he  had  re- 
ceived several  grants  of  land  from  Governors  Macquarie  and 
Brisbane,  they  were  of  too  small  a  value  to  be  of  service  to  him. 
He  must  stay;  and,  if  he  stayed,  he  must  continue  to  act  as 
chaplain  to  his  people,  who  bothered  little  about  the  Govern- 
ment suspension. 

The  relative  positions  of  the  two  priests  soon  brought  on 
difficulties  that  could  hardly  be  avoided.  Father  Therry  would 
not  admit  the  superiority  which  the  chaplain  attempted  to 
assume.  If  Father  Dowling  would  assist  him  in  his  labours, 
or  act  independently  of  him,  he  would  not  object.  But  he 
thought — and  with  reason,  too — that  Father  Dowling  claimed 
too  much;  and  in  this  attitude  he  met  with  the  support  of  his 
Bishop.  Dr.  Slater  summed  up  the  difficulties,  stated  explicitly 
the  positions  of  the  two  priests,  and  formulated  rules  for 
amicable  working: — 

Rev.  dear  Sir, 

I  have  been  honored  by  your  letter  of  the  12th 
January,  and  without  entering  into  unnecessary  details  on  a 
subject  which  has  given  me  so  much  pain,  I  will  inform  you 
that  I  have  written  to  Mr.  Dowling  a  letter,  which  I  hope  will 
in  future  prevent  his  assuming  any  right  of  superiority  over 
you,  or  putting  forward  any  claims  of  ownership  of  what  has 
been  produced  by  your  laudable,  arduous  and  perseverant 
efforts. 

To  the  Commissioner  of  the  Court  of  Requests  I  have 
stated  opinions  which,  as  he  is  under  no  restraint  as  to  their 
communication,  will  be  your  apology  to  the  public  if  any  portion 
of  it  has  blamed  or  mistaken  you,  and  may  be  of  some  use  to 
you  with  His  Excellency  the  Governor.  If  Mr.  Dowling  show 
you  the  letter  he  will  receive  under  this  cover,  it  will  be  a 
pledge  of  his  wish  to  return  to  terms  of  brotherly  affection, 
which  I  am  sure  you  will  meet  with  cordiality.  I  would  advise 
your  returning  to  the  same  terms  on  which  you  received  him 
into  the  Chapel  House. 

I  hope  you  have  left  regular  accounts  of  the  monies  you 
have  received  and  expended  on  account  of  the  chapel  and 


138  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

house ;  for  this  you  and  I  may  be  satisfied  that  your  own  fru- 
gal table  and  abstemious  habits  have  drawn  little  from  the  com- 
mon fund,  yet  whatever  is  common  must  be  accounted  for  to 
the  public.  I  know  that  many  very  active  and  zealous  men 
are  apt  to  consider  as  minutiae  deserving  scant  attention  ob- 
jects of  economy  which  are  of  importance  in  life. 

I  enclose  a  printed  paper  which  will  enable  you  to  appre- 
ciate the  rumours  Mr.  Dowling  is  spreading  on  a  subject  of 
which  he  spoke  in  oifferent  terms  to  Mr.  Conolly.  The  written 
paper  will  I  hope,  put  a  term  to  those  differences,  for  whatever 
be  the  origin  of  Church  property,  once  applied  to  religious  pur- 
poses it  becomes  immediately  subject  to  Episcopal  jurisdiction. 

I  trust  you  will  not  fail,  whoever  be  the  Trustees  named, 
to  make  it  perfectly  understood  that  a  portion  of  the  land 
granted  at  your  request  in  Sydney,  was  intended  for  the 
erection  of  a  seminary  for  Ecclesiastical  education,  and  that 
you  had  so  notified  to  me.  Indeed,  I  shall  take  care  that  all 
your  laudable  intentions  are  realised :  otherwise,  the  church 
shall  not  be  consecrated  whilst  I  hold  jurisdiction  over  Aus- 
tralia. 

You  cannot,  I  should  apprehend,  feel  any  difficulty  in 
signing  the  accompanying  paper.  It  is  preliminary  to  what  I 
may  feel  myself  justified  in  doing  later.  I  have  distinctly  told 
Mr.  Dowling  that  he  had  no  right  to  exercise  authority  over 
you,  and  I  have  no  doubt  your  conduct  towards  him  will  be 
marked  by  the  urbanity  of  a  gentleman,  the  charity  of  a 
Christian  and  the  kindness  of  a  Brother. 
Wishing  you  all  peace  and  happiness, 

I  am,  your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

►J^  Edward  E.R. 

The  terms  of  agreement  proposed  by  the  Bishop  read  as 
follows : — 

1.  That  the  trustees  be  those  named  by  the  Rev.  J.  J. 
Therry. 

2.  That  Mr.  Therry  remain  Master  of  the  Dwelling  House 
he  has  himself  built.  The  Revd.  C.  V.  Dowling  being 
entitled  to  a  fair  share  of  apartments  therein  for  him- 
self alone. 

3.  That  the  duties  of  the  Chapel  be  shared  between  the 
two  clergymen,  and  the  proceeds  of  dues    etc.  to  be 


BISHOP    SLATER'S    CONDITIONS  139 

divided  into  three  equal  parts,  whereof  two  shall  be 
allotted  to  the  clergyman  who  does  not  receive  a  salary 
from  Government. 

4.  That  so  long  as  Mr.  Therry  remains  unpaid  by  the 
Civil  Authority,  Mr.  Dowling  shall  take  precedence  in 
the  temporary  chapel  allowed  by  Government;  St. 
Joseph's  Chapel  and  the  schools  remaining  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Therry. 

5.  That  the  collections  which  must  continue  to  be  made 
on  Sundays  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Trustees. 

6.  That  the  Charity  Schools  remain  or  be  replaced  under 
the  same  female  guidance  under  which  they  were  found 
at  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Dowling  at  the  settlement. 

7.  That  whenever  Mr.  Therry  shall  at  the  request  of  Mr. 
Dowling  proceed  into  the  country  districts  on  duties 
where  a  compensation  or  advance  is  allowed  by  Govern- 
ment, he  shall  be  entitled  to  two-thirds  of  the  sum 
allowed. 

8.  That  no  influence  whatever  be  exercised  by  either 
clergyman  to  induce  the  faithful  to  place  themselves 
under  his  special  directions;  perfect  liberty  being  left 
to  every  member  of  the  congregation  to  such  spiritual 
aid  and  consolation  as  he  may  like  best. 

9.  That  these  conditions  be  mutually  agreed  to  and  signed 
in  the  presence  of  J.  R.  Therry  Esq.  J. P.,  and  Sir 
John  Jamison,  J. P. ;  or,  on  their  declining,  in  the 
presence  of  two  other  respectable  witnesses,  and  that 
until  they  be  so  signed  neither  clergyman  be  allowed 
to  bless,  consecrate  or  use  for  religious  purposes  the 
edifice  erected  mainly  by  the  exertions  of  the  Revd.  J. 
J.  Therry. 

>J<  Edward  Slater. 
Mauritius, 

Port  Louis,  8th  March,  1832. 

These  conditions  were  severe  and  far-reaching.  They 
were  made  capable  of  observance,  because  both  priests  were 
to  begin  with  deprived  of  the  right  to  use  the  church ;  if  they 
intended  to  continue  their  ministrations,  they  would  have  to 
find  means  of  obeying.  Much  is  possible,  when  possibility  is 
bound  by  necessity.  The  Bishop  was  in  an  unenviable  position. 
There  were  two  priests  in  a  vast  colony,  thousands  of  miles 


13 


140  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

from  any  other  civilization,  and  from  this  distance  he  had  to 
direct  them. 

Father  Therry  did  right  when  he  determined  to  leave  Aus- 
tralia; but  his  later  change  of  mind  is  justified  by  the  invalu- 
able services  he  actually  rendered  to  the  Church  in  New  South 
Wales,  Port  Phillip  and  Tasmania.  He  looked  ahead,  it  is 
true,  to  the  effects  that  such  a  retirement  might  bring  about; 
he  saw  that  the  people  might  refuse  to  recognize  a  chaplain 
who  by  his  mere  presence  made  possible  his  own  continued 
suspension ;  he  saw  that  there  must  be  more  than  one  priest  to 
help  in  a  missionary  field  which  was  really  too  large  for  a 
dozen  labourers.  On  the  other  hand,  it  had  been  proved  in 
the  case  of  Father  Power  that  the  existence  side  by  side  of 
the  official  and  the  suspended  priest  led  to  almost  impossible 
situations,  and  it  was  certain  that  a  similar  situation  would 
arise  in  the  near  future.  The  misunderstanding  had  already 
become  acute.  There  were  open  and  public  evidences  of  the 
disagreement  between  the  two  impulsive  priests. 

Note  on  St.  Joseph's  Chapel. 

On  p.  127,  in  an  extract  from  Father  Therry's  diary, 
it  is  mentioned  that  he  celebrated  Mass  in  Sydney  at  "St. 
Joseph's  Chapel."  This  name  plunges  us  into  a  controversy 
that  has  agitated  many  students  of  the  early  history  of  Sydney. 
What  was  this  chapel  ?  Where  was  it  situated,  and  when  was  it 
built?  Dr.  Ullathorne  in  1833,  writing  to  Bishop  Morris,  men- 
tions "the  presbytery  and  a  small  chapel  annexed,  dedicated 
to  St.  Joseph"  as  buildings  on  which  Father  Therry  had  spent 
£1,100.  He  goes  on:  "The  origin  of  St.  Joseph's  Chapel  ought 
to  be  made  known  to  your  Lordship.  When  disputes  arose 
between  the  Revd.  Mr.  Power  and  the  committee  for  managing 
the  building  on  one  side,  and  the  Revd.  Mr.  Therry  on  the 
other,  Mr.  Therry  built  this  Chapel,  capable  of  holding  (with 
its  galleries)  about  300  persons,  with  part  of  the  money  col- 
lected for  the  Church  and  Presbytery." 

Dr.  Ullathorne  was  a  good  deal  worried  about  this  chapel, 
and  even  went  so  far  as  to  talk  about  "two  rival  congregations." 
At  first  sight,  too,  it  seems  a  little  superfluous  for  Father 
Therry  to  have  built  a  new  chapel  in  St.  Mary's  grounds,  just 
when  it  was  very  difficult  to  raise  funds  for  completing  the 


ST.   JOSEPH'S    CHAPEL 


141 


main  church,  and  while  Mass  was  being  celebrated  in  the  old 
Court  House  every  Sunday.  These  considerations  have  led 
some  writers  to  assert  that  St.  Joseph's  Chapel  was  not  a 
separate  building  at  all,  but  merely  an  altar  within  the  first- 
completed  part  of  the  main  building.    Dr.  Ullathorne's  words, 


ST.  JOSEPH'S  CHAPEL 


however,  make  this  assertion  untenable,  and  we  seem  driven 
back  on  the  supposition  that  Father  Therry  was  so  embittered 
against  Father  Power  as  to  spend  much-needed  money  on  a 
superfluous  building,  just  to  have  a  foothold  for  his  own  minis- 
trations in  Sydney  apart  from  the  official  chaplain.  (The 
fourth  of  Bishop  Slater's  'terms  of  agreement'  shows  that  it  be- 
came just  such  a  foothold.) 


13a 


142 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


On  the  other  hand,  no  existing  plans  of  the  grounds  at- 
tached to  St  Mary's  made  prior  to  1846  (and  there  are  half  a 
dozen  or  more)  show  any  separate  chapel.  Some  of  these 
plans  are  contemporaneous  with  Dr.  Ullathorne's  arrival,  and 
yet  show  no  trace  of  the  building  which  so  worried  him.6 


Sur-.Crn*  33-286 
Col:  Sec :  33  .  C38 
Sur:  Oral    33-  f  55 


J I 


Allotment  -for  Cart  hot  10  CHapel 

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****«.^    Original  Allot-.  I     7  30 

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a: 


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Original  Content    U2r30p 
Present   Content   2+J«  sP 


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\r\   Ass^  Sur- Le*V»s'5  LcWerarxd  Ptseriphcm  daKd  21"*Ju»y  lg?3 


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Scale    o(-  Chains 


Copied    From    Plan     ir»    SKetch   Book    Vol: 2  Folio- SO 
Deposited      *«r»  ttae    Department-  of  Lavxcls    Sydney     iv.s.Wales. 

SKETCH   OF  SITE   OF  ST.   MARY'S,   MADE  IN   1833 


6  Still,  surveyors'  sketches  concerned  only  with  the  area  of  ground 
granted  (as  these  are)  do  not  always  represent  accurately  the  buildings 
within  that  area.  A  sketch  of  1846  might  quite  naturally  reproduce 
the  building  conditions  of  1828. 


ST.    JOSEPH'S    CHAPEL  143 

A  possible  solution,  however,  is  afforded  by  the  mention 
in  a  letter  of  Father  Therry's  to  Bishop  Slater  (quoted  on  p. 
6y  above)  of  a  school-house  which  he  put  up  in  1824:  "a  very 
handsome  building  in  the  cottage  style,  one  hundred  feet  in 
length,  with  two  returns  of  45  feet  each.  It  is  ornamented 
with  a  very  handsome  cupola,  for  which  we  have  provided  a 
good  bell." 

This  building  is  clearly  shown  on  all  the  pre- 1846  plans, 
but  with  a  noticeable  addition.  The  "return"  nearer  the  church 
is  45  feet  long,  as  Father  Therry  says ;  but  the  "return"  on  the 
far  (the  northern)  side,  though  its  original  dimensions  are 
indicated,  has  been  extended  by  the  addition  of  about  sixty 
feet  to  its  length,  and  a  few  feet  to  the  greater  part  of  its 
breadth.  On  one  of  the  plans  the  whole  building  is  called 
"School  and  Dwelling  House".  This  answers  exactly  to  Dr. 
Ullathorne's  description — "the  presbytery  and  a  small  Chapel 
annexed";  and  on  these  facts  we  might  conclude  that  Father 
Therry,  finding  the  building  over-large  for  a  school  (he  him- 
self says  it  was  nearly  big  enough  to  make  a  convent),  and 
feeling  the  need  of  a  foothold  in  Sydney  as  suggested  above, 
felt  justified  in  enlarging  one  wing  of  the  original  building 
and  using  it  as  a  chapel.  We  know  that  Father  Power's  at- 
tacks on  supporters  of  Father  Therry,  which  were  not  infre- 
quent at  the  Masses  in  the  Court  House,  embittered  many 
Catholics ;  and  the  unfortunate  friction  between  the  two  priests, 
while  it  would  not  have  justified  or  even  excused  the  erection 
of  a  new  building,  might  be  taken  as  some  excuse  for  the 
adaptation  and  enlargement  of  an  old  one. 

Were  this  all  the  evidence  available,  we  could  justifiably 
conclude  that  St.  Joseph's  Chapel  was,  as  just  suggested,  the 
enlarged  northern  wing  of  the  1824  schoolhouse.  But  a  water- 
colour  painting  in  the  library  of  St.  Patrick's  College,  Manly, 
(reproduced  at  p.  140),  and  another  almost  identical  water- 
colour  in  the  possession  of  the  Revd.  W.  H.  H.  Yarrington, 
indicate  a  very  different  state  of  affairs.  In  these  pictures 
the  space  allotted  on  the  Lands  Department  plans  to  the  school- 
house  of  1824  is  occupied  by  two  rather  squat  buildings  (one 
storey  and  an  attic)  with  a  taller  one  (two  storeys  and  an 
attic)  between  them,  all  three  with  the  longer  axis  east  and 
west.  These  paintings — which,  apart  from  the  differences 
noted  below,  are  distinguishable  only  by  slight  variations 
in  the  foreground,  the  length  of  the  blackfellow's  spear,  and 
such  unimportant  trifles — must  have  been  made  before  1843, 
in  which  year  the  cottage  shown  on  the  left  (then  used  as  a 


144  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

schoolhouse)  was  pulled  down  and  a  larger  building — St. 
Mary's  Seminary — erected  on  the  same  site. 

Collating  the  evidence  furnished  by  these  pictures  with  that 
of  the  sketch  (p.  141)  reproduced  from  Mr.  O'Connor's 
pamphlet  of  1882  and  with  the  recollections  of  men  still  living 
who  knew  the  buildings  from  i860  onwards,  one  might  venture 
to  identify  "St.  Joseph's  Chapel"  with  the  central  building 
shown  in  the  watercolours ;  indeed,  there  is  little  doubt  that  in 
the  sixties  it  was  so.  It  will  be  noted,  moreover,  that  in  the 
reproduced  painting  a  cross  is  clearly  depicted  on  the  western 
gable  of  the  central  building.  In  Mr.  Yarrington's  picture  no 
cross  is  visible,  but  close  scrutiny  discovers  traces  of  its 
obliteration.  The  picture  reproduced  from  Mr.  O'Connor's 
pamphlet  also  lacks  a  cross ;  as  St.  Joseph's  Chapel  was  after- 
wards used  for  other  purposes,  there  may  have  been  one  on 
the  gable  originally,  and  it  may  have  been  removed  when  the 
building  ceased  to  be  a  chapel.  (But  the  watercolours  are  not 
to  be  taken  as  infallibly  accurate;  for  instance,  Mr.  Yarring- 
ton's shows  a  cross  on  the  second  pinnacle  from  the  left  of  St. 
Mary's  itself,  which  is  lacking  in  the  Manly  picture.) 

It  must  further  be  noted  that  the  extensions  of  the  school- 
house  shown  on  the  plan  of  1828  are  not  accounted  for  in  the 
watercolours.  The  plan  shows  one  wing  (the  northern)  as 
quite  100  feet  long,  the  other  as  about  60.  The  northern  wing 
in  the  watercolours  is  obviously  much  less  than  100  feet  long; 
it  corresponds  rather  to  Father  Therry's  original  "returns  of  45 
feet  each".  One  would  naturally  conclude  from  this  that  at 
some  time  between  1828  and  1843  tne  additions  had  been  pulled 
down — and  possibly  used  to  build  the  central  chapel.  And 
from  other  evidence  we  can  guess  why.  On  p.  154  are  quoted 
official  letters  showing  that  Father  Therry  had  put  up  build- 
ings on  land  outside  his  original  grant,  and  that  the  Govern- 
ment insisted  on  their  demolition;  while  the  plan  reproduced 
on  p.  155  shows  that  the  buildings  so  put  up  were  in  fact  the 
two  extensions  in  question.  Therefore,  although  there  is  no 
record  of  the  actual  demolition,  we  are  justified  in  concluding 
that  it  took  place.  The  use  of  the  materials  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  third  (the  central)  building  is  no  more  than  an  in- 
ference— strengthened,  of  course,  by  the  fact  that  between  the 
official  order  for  demolition,  dated  15  July,  1828,  and  the  first 
recorded  use  of  St.  Joseph's  Chapel  on  1  January,  1830,  there 
is  reasonable  time  for  both  demolition  and  erection.  And  yet 
.  .  .  while  it  seems  excusable,  as  has  been  said,  in  Father  Therry 
to  evade  collision  with  Father  Power  by  fitting  up  for  his  own 


ST.    JOSEPH'S    CHAPEL  145 

Masses  a  building  already  in  existence,  the  erection  of  a  new 
building,  even  with  materials  already  on  the  spot,  can  scarcely 
be  justified. 

Until  further  evidence  is  available,  it  would  seem  that  the 
controversy  must  rest  here.  It  is  certain  that  at  some  date  be- 
fore 1843  there  was  a  central  building  between  the  wings  of 
the  schoolhouse,  and  that  this  building  was  used  for  some 
time  as  St.  Joseph's  Chapel.  But  whether  this  was  the  build- 
ing in  which  Father  Therry  offered  Mass  for  the  first  time 
on  Jan.  1,  1830,  and  frequently  afterwards,  cannot  be  de- 
finitely stated.6 


6  For  many  of  the  facts  here  set  forth  the  author  is  indebted  to  the 
kindness  of  Mr.  T.  Donovan,  Mr.  John  Weingarth,  and  Mr.  H.  Selkirk 
of  the  Lands  Department.  Mr.  J.  G.  O'Connor's  St.  Mary's  Cathedral, 
and  Old  St.  Mary's,  by  Mr.  J.  P.  McGuanne,  have  also  been  consulted. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  send  forth 
labourers  into  his  harvest. 

— St.  Matthew  ix.,  38. 

The  arrival  of  Roger  Therry  in  1829  had  been  the  herald 
of  better  times;  the  departure  of  Governor  Darling,  and  the 
arrival  of  Sir  Richard  Bourke  at  the  end  of  1830,  ushered  in 
the  period  of  justice  for  which  Catholics  had  so  long  waited. 

The  fame  of  Sir  Richard  Bourke  had  preceded  him  to  the 
colony.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier,  experienced  in  many  wars, 
and  well  acquainted  with  the  needs  of  peoples  and  countries 
foreign  to  England.  His  experience  and  broad-mindedness 
would  naturally  lead  him  to  contemplate  a  system  involving 
some  amount  of  self-government  for  the  colonists,  rather  than 
to  be  content  with  the  strict  enforcing  of  laws  made  by  men 
completely  ignorant  of  the  people  for  whom  they  legislated. 
Much  was  expected  of  him  by  the  Catholics  of  the  colony, 
and  they  were  not  disappointed.  His  first  actions  initiated  the 
removal  of  religious  disabilities. 

The  difiiculties  that  faced  him  were  many.  Catholic  finan- 
cial claims  alone,  owing  to  the  ten  years'  refusal  of  just  assist- 
ance, amounted  to  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  The  work 
that  had  been  done  on  the  St.  Mary's  property  was  valued  by 
a  competent  architect  of  the  time  at  £5,900,  and  £3,000  out 
of  this  sum,  it  was  claimed,  was  still  due  from  the  Govern- 
ment. Father  Therry,  too,  was  still  in  the  position  forced  on 
him  by  Governor  Darling,  clamouring  for  Government  recog- 
nition and  for  reinstatement  as  official  chaplain. 

Bourke's  policy  from  the  first  proved  that  he  took  a 
sympathetic  interest  in  Catholic  claims.  Accordingly  on  30 
March,  1832,  a  public  meeting  was  held  in  Sydney  to  further 
Catholic  interests.  Roger  Therry,  in  a  speech  advocating  the 
presentation  of  a  memorial,1  gave  an  account  of  the  state  of 

1  Kenny,  p.  57. 

146 


A    SYMPATHETIC    GOVERNOR  147 

the  Church  at  that  time.  He  acknowledged  the  recent  grant 
of  £500  to  St.  Mary's,  and  urged  the  Government  not  to  stop 
at  this  sum,  which  was  entirely  inadequate  for  the  completion 
of  the  church.  Education,  also,  was  denied  to  Catholics.  They 
comprised  one-third  of  the  population  of  the  colony;  yet  they- 
were  excluded  from  the  school  for  teaching  trades  at  Carter's 
Barracks,  from  the  School  of  Industry,  and  from  the  Orphan 
School,  nor  was  there  any  endowment  for  the  education  of 
youth.  (A  recent  resolution  of  the  Legislative  Council,  how- 
ever, had  recommended  such  a  provision.)  In  the  ship  in 
which  he  came  to  Australia,  said  Therry,  there  were  two  hun- 
dred prisoners,  of  whom  a  hundred  and  seventy  were  Catho- 
lics; and  the  same  proportion  was  being  kept  up  in  each  ship 
sent  from  Ireland.  These  men  were  sent  out  to  be  reformed ; 
yet  on  their  arrival  all  but  twenty  or  thirty  were  assigned  as 
servants  to  employers  in  Sydney,  Bathurst  or  Maitland,  where 
during  the  whole  term  of  their  imprisonment  they  never  saw 
a  priest,  not  even  at  death.  The  necessity  for  extra  chaplains 
was  therefore  indisputable. 

With  regard  to  Father  Therry,  his  namesake  went  on,  he  had 
been  for  twelve  years  chaplain  in  the  colony,  and  during  that 
time  no  one  was  ever  able  to  belittle  his  zeal  or  his  character. 
The  speaker  knew  that  no  act  of  the  Government  wrould  be 
hailed  by  Catholics  with  more  delight  and  gratitude  than  the 
reinstatement  of  this  heroic  priest  in  the  position  of  which  he 
had  been  so  cruelly  deprived. 

The  memorial — which  was  identical  with  that  drawn  up 
in  1830 — was  not  presented  until  August  17,  1832.  On  the 
presenting  deputation  were  Major  Mitchell,  Surveyor-Gene- 
ral; J.  H.  Plunkett,  Solicitor-General;  Roger  Therry;  S. 
Moore,  the  senior  magistrate  of  the  colony;  and  Fathers  Mc- 
Encroe  and  Therry.  The  Governor  gave  them  a  sympathetic 
hearing.  He  quoted  the  letter2  in  which  Lord  Bathurst  gave 
Governor  Brisbane  permission  to  complete  the  chapel,  and 
stated  that  he  had  done  all  in  his  power  to  place  the  Catholic 
schools  on  a  better  footing;  as  for  Father  Therry's  claim  for 

2  Above,  p.  105. 


148  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

reinstatement,  though  he  recognized  its  justice,  to  grant  it  was 
beyond  his  power — but  he  would  lay  the  case  before  the  Home 
Government.  He  did  so.  The  effects  were  not  immediate ;  but, 
when  they  did  become  apparent,  they  inaugurated  a  new  era 
for  the  Church  in  Australia. 

Meanwhile  the  movement  in  England  to  gain  recognition 
for  the  Catholic  Church  in  Australia  was  very  active.  Mr. 
Blount  and  other  influential  friends  of  Roger  Therry  were 
working  incessantly.  Even  the  Vicar  Apostolic  of  London  was 
awakening  from  his  state  of  apparent  want  of  interest  in  the 
claims  of  the  colony.  On  September  24,  1832,  Roger  Therry 
enclosed  to  Joseph  Hume  (a  leader  of  the  radical  party  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  and  an  ardent  supporter  of  Catholic  eman- 
cipation) copies  of  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  meeting  a  few 
weeks  previously,  and  solicited  his  interest  in  the  cause.  Wher- 
ever a  likely  sympathizer  was  to  be  found,  he  was  made  aware 
of  the  Catholic  disabilities.3  The  first  signs  of  the  success  of 
Mr.  Blount's  exertions  are  contained  in  a  letter  sent  to  him 
by  Lord  Stanley,  dated  February,  1834,  which  refers  to  hap- 
penings of  an  earlier  date.  "I  have  the  pleasure,"  Lord  Stanley 
wrote,  "of  enclosing  to  you  a  copy  of  the  despatch  from 
General  Bourke,  by  which  you  will  perceive  that  the  object  of 
your  application  has  been  anticipated  to  an  extent  which  I  trust 
will  be  satisfactory,  and  that  provision  has  been  made  for  the 
maintenance  of  four  additional  chaplains."  (Under  the  terms 
of  this  provision  Fathers  McEncroe  and  Dowling  had  been  sent 
out.)  "I  entirely  concur  with  General  Bourke  in  opinion  that 
this  addition  is  not  more  than  is  required  by  the  necessity  of 
the  case,  and,  should  the  demand  increase,  I  am  satisfied  the 
Legislative  Council  of  New  South  Wales  will  be  happy  to  make 
such  further  provision  as  may  be  in  their  power.  Agreeing  also 
with  General  Bourke  in  the  extreme  importance  of  the  selection 
of  the  clergymen  to  be  appointed  I  have  already  communicated 
on  the  subject  with  Dr.  Bramston"  (Vicar  Apostolic  of  the 
London  District)   "and  I  hope  that  no  long  time  will  elapse 


Reminiscences,  p.  148. 


"THE  CATHEDRAL  CHURCH  OF  ST.  MARY,  SYDNEY,  N.S.W." 

(From  a  lithograph,  published  January,   1843,  by  J.  S.  Prout,  in  the 
Dixson   Collection,  Sydney) 

To  face  p.    148 


FATHER    McENCROE    ARRIVES  149 

before  the  newly-appointed  chaplains  proceed  to  their  destina- 
tion/'4 

Father  Dowling  had  already  arrived  in  the  colony.  Almost 
a  year  later,  on  17  August,  1832,  the  Rev.  John  McEncroe 
landed  at  Sydney,  and  with  him  came  one  who  was  to  be  an 
able  and  willing  supporter  of  the  work  of  Roger  Therry — 
John  Hubert  Plunkett,  Solicitor-General  of  the  Colony.  Ac- 
cording to  Cardinal  Moran,5  it  was  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Plun- 
kett that  Father  McEncroe  received  his  appointment  as  Chap- 
lain. 

Father  McEncroe  was  destined  to  become  a  leading  figure 
in  the  Australian  Church.  For  thirty-six  years  he  laboured  in 
its  interests.  From  the  first  day  of  his  arrival  till  Father 
Therry 's  death  in  1864  he  retained  the  friendship  of  the  much 
harassed  missionary ;  he  understood  the  trials  and  peculiarities 
of  his  friend  so  well  that,  where  Fathers  Power  and  Dowling, 
and  Dr.  Ullathorne  too,  did  not  succeed  in  winning  the  affec- 
tion of  Father  Therry,  Father  McEncroe  did  succeed  by  his 
sympathetic  treatment. 

Father  McEncroe  was  born  near  Cashel  in  Ireland,  in  the 
year  1795.  He  was  ordained  priest  in  1820,  and  for  a  short 
time  held  a  professorship  at  the  Diocesan  Academy,  Navan.6 
Whilst  still  very  young  he  gave  evidence  of  ability  by  publish- 
ing a  new  edition  of  Donlevy's  Catechism  in  Irish  and  English. 
He  then  sought  new  fields  of  labour  in  the  diocese  of  Charles- 
ton (U.S.A.),  where  he  remained  for  seven  years  as  Vicar- 
General  to  Bishop  English.  On  his  return  to  Ireland,  broken  in 
health  by  the  work  of  the  American  mission,  he  was  given 
an  idea  of  the  sad  fate  of  convicts  in  New  South  Wales ; 
while  staying  in  Clonmel  he  saw  a  number  of  prisoners  about 
to  be  transported,  and  straightway  determined  on  his  future 
work.  It  was  to  be  of  immense  service  to  the  church  in  the 
colony. 

4  Reminiscences,  p.  149. 

5  P.  131. 

0  Cardinal   Moran,   pp.    131   sqq. ;   Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia, 
1  .  161. 


150  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Father  Therry's  work  was  now  considerably  lessened. 
There  were  three  missionaries  at  work  in  the  colony,  Father 
Dowling  (at  Newcastle  for  a  time,  and  then  at  Windsor), 
and  Fathers  Therry  and  McEncroe  working  harmoniously 
and  profitably  at  the  Chapel-House  in  Sydney.  Supporting  them 
were  Roger  Therry  and  John  Hubert  Plunkett,  two  strong 
men  ever  ready  to  forward  the  claims  of  the  church.  The 
Governor  himself  was  more  than  sympathetic,  and  his  sympathy 
was  actively  and  usefully  expressed.  One  thing  still  was  lack- 
ing— Father  Therry's  services  had  not  the  official  sanction  of 
the  Government. 

An  account  of  the  system  of  work  adopted  by  the  three 
priests  at  this  time  is  given  in  a  letter  written  by  Father  McEn- 
croe on  2  November,  1832,  to  Dr.  Murray,  Archbishop  of 
Dublin :— 7 

My  dear  and  Reverend  Lord, 

....  I  have  been  stationed  here,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Dowling,  who  is  in  rather  a  bad  state  of  health,  having  taken  up 
his  residence  at  Windsor,  about  forty  miles  up  the  country.  I 
live  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry  in  the  Chapel  House;  I  hope 
he  will  soon  get  the  usual  salary,  of  which  he  was  deprived 
by  Governor  Darling.  .  .  .  There  are  16,000  or  18,000  Cath- 
olics in  this  Colony,  not  one  half  of  whom  hardly  ever  see  a 
priest.  The  present  Governor  is  friendly  to  us.  £500,  in  ad- 
dition to  £300  have  been  voted  for  Catholic  chaplains  and 
schools  for  the  next  year.  Five  or  six  zealous  priests  are 
absolutely  wanted  here.  I  intend  to  memorial  the  Secretary 
for  the  Colonies  on  this  and  other  matters  connected  with  the 
Catholic  affairs  of  New  South  Wales.  I  am  sure  that  any  well 
recommended  priest,  who  would  apply  as  I  did,  would  meet 
encouragement.  We  want  very  much,  five  or  six  competent 
schoolmasters ;  each  would  get  about  £50  a  year.  I  have  the 
appointment 

The  number  of  converts  is  considerable  in  the  Colony,  con- 
sidering the  little  opportunity  of  instruction.  There  is  a  general 
dislike  of  the  ministers  of  the  Establishment,  which  is  to  cost 
the  people  £20,000  for  the  next  year. 

The  Holy  See  should  provide  this  place  with  a  Bishop.  It 
is  the  most  neglected  portion  of  the   Catholic  world.     The 

7  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  I..  222. 


WORK    OF   THE    MISSION  151 

Vicar-Apostolic  at  the  Mauritius  can  do  but  little  for  this 
place ;  by  proper  care  it  can  become  an  interesting  portion  of 
the  fold  of  Christ.  The  youth  are  docile  and  enterprising  and 
tenacious  of  the  faith  of  their  unfortunate  fathers.  .  .  . 

The  sum  of  £1500  has  been  subscribed  within  the  past 
month  for  the  completion  of  our  beautiful  church,  built  chiefly 
through  the  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry.  I  have  an 
arduous  mission  in  Sydney  with  a  Catholic  population  of 
5000  souls  and  am  called  at  an  average  of  once  or  twice  a 
week  to  attend  sick  calls  at  the  distance  of  from  20  to  40 
miles.  .  .  . 

The  work  of  the  mission  was  not  suffering  from  lack  of 
interest  on  the  part  of  its  chaplains.  Father  Therry's  diary 
in  these  years  shows  the  great  distances  accomplished  in  his 
missionary  journeys.8  Even  as  far  as  Moreton  Bay  he  jour- 
neyed in  quest  of  souls.  This  constant  travelling,  and  the  fre- 
quent calls  of  his  poor  people  and  convicts  were  a  heavy 
tax  upon  his  limited  finances.  The  people  were  generous; 
but  their  subscriptions  were  soon  absorbed  in  the  funds  for 
building  churches  and  schools  in  the  vast  mission.  The  assist- 
ance given  by  Government  was  entirely  inadequate  and,  in 
comparison  with  the  large  sums  expended  on  the  Anglican 
Church,  simply  ludicrous.  The  people,  too,  were  not  blind  to 
this  prodigal  favouritism.  Even  the  Sydney  Gazette,  usually 
unsympathetic  with  Catholics,  voiced  the  public  indignation.9 
A  few  statistics  on  this  subject  will  be  of  interest. 

In  1828  the  population  of  the  colony  was  36,598,  of  whom 
25,248  were  Protestants  of  all  denominations  and  11,236 
Catholics.10  The  Anglican  Church  enjoyed  the  services  of  14 
chaplains  (besides  the  Archdeacon),  who  were  provided  with 
eight  churches,  six  chapels,  and  a  residence  for  each  chaplain. 
The  Catholics  were  allowed  one  official  chaplain ;  after  his 
death  Government  for  a  time  paid  no  salary  to  a  Catholic  priest. 
In  1833  tne  Church  of  England  received  from  Government  a 
total  sum  of  £19,071  5s.  8d. ;  the  Church  of  Scotland,  a  com- 


8  See  Appendix  A,  No.  24. 

'  Cf.  its  issue  of  May  9,  1831. 

10  Report  of  Commission  on  Colonial  Revenue,  8  December,  1830. 


152  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

paratively  small  body  with  an  exceedingly  active  pastor,  got 
£600;  and  the  twelve  thousand  Catholics  only  £800.  This  un- 
just system  might  have  continued  without  criticism  under  such 
Governors  as  Darling.  But  with  the  arrival  of  Bourke  the  times 
were  changed.  The  people  raised  their  protest  against  such  a 
system,  and  its  collapse  was  very  close  at  hand. 

Father  Therry,  in  his  dealings  with  Government,  had  not 
been  sufficiently  aware  of  the  importance  of  thorough  and 
systematic  business  methods ;  and  Dr.  Ullathome  severely  con- 
demns him  for  gross  neglect  in  this  matter,  often,  though  not 
always,  with  sufficient  cause.  He  certainly  was  too  trustful  of 
official  promises.  It  must  be  taken  into  account,  however,  that 
Government  securities  and  receipts  were  often  unobtainable, 
and  that  much  of  his  work  was  done  against  express  official 
commands.  The  absence  of  Government  recognition,  however, 
had  not  caused  much  trouble  in  the  past;  but  serious  results 
were  about  to  ensue. 

In  the  first  year  of  Father  Therry's  ministration  in  the 
colony,  land  had  been  set  aside  as  a  site  for  the  Catholic  Chapel. 
Under  the  direction  of  Surveyor  Meehan,  an  area  was  measured 
of!  and  taken  possession  of.  But  in  all  his  transactions  Father 
Therry  was  inclined  to  give  Government  favours  a  wider  inter- 
pretation than  the  original  order  allowed.  In  these  early  times 
there  were  hundreds  of  acres  of  unreclaimed  bush  around  St. 
Mary's ;  what  could  it  matter  if  he  took  a  little  more  than  the 
original  grant? 

The  encroachment  was  not  noticed  until  Government  had 
need  of  the  adjoining  allotment.  Then  it  was  found  that  a 
fence  had  been  erected  by  Father  Therry  on  ground  claimed  as 
Government  property.  He  was  asked  to  remove  the  fence,  or 
to  substantiate  his  right  to  the  land  by  production  of  the  deeds. 
His  reply  was  addressed  on  28  December,  1832,  to  Governor 
Bourke's  secretary: — 

In  this  document,  His  Excellency  has  the  kindness  to  avow 
that  he  is  not  disposed  to  urge  the  rights  of  the  Crown  against 


THE  VERY  REVEREND  ARCHDEACON   McENCROE 

To  face  p.    152 


LAND    DIFFICULTY  153 

any  equitable  claim  supported  by  reasonable  proofs  of  its 
fairness,  but  complains  that  I  have  not  produced  any  docu- 
mentary evidence  in  support  of  my  claim.  This  avowal  of  His 
Excellency  is  an  honourable  and  just  one,  but  His  Excellency 
cannot,  with  reason,  attach  blame  to  me  for  not  producing 
documents  which  I  entrusted  to  Government,  and  which  were 
afterwards  either  mislaid  or  destroyed,  as  many  others  are 
proved  to  have  been  in  one  of  the  Government  offices.  When 
my  right  to  the  land  in  question  was  first  disputed  under  the 
Government  of  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane,  K.C.B.,  I  submitted 
those  documents  to  His  Excellency  through  Mr.  Stirling, 
brother  of  the  present  Governor  of  the  Swan  River  Colony. 
Sir  Thomas  sent  them  to  the  then  Attorney-General,  Saxe 
Bannister,  Esq.,  whose  opinion,  as  he  himself  told  me,  being 
favourable  to  my  claim  on  said  land,  His  Excellency  the 
Governor  left  me  in  undisturbed  and  undisputed  possession 
of  it.  But  the  documents,  though  I  was  most  anxious  to  re- 
gain possession  of  them,  have  not  since  been  returned,  and  I 
have  reason  to  believe  that  they  were  intentionally  destroyed. 
His  Excellency  General  Darling  some  years  after  at- 
tempted to  take  forcible  possession  of  it  by  cutting  off  the 
house  that  I  had  some  years  before  built  on  it,  by  a  fence ;  and 
the  person,  who  was  employed  in  its  erection,  declared  to  me 
in  confidence  that  he  was  instructed  to  knock  down  the  first 
man  who  should  attempt  to  interrupt  him ;  but  that  instruc- 
tion I  feel  convinced  did  not  emanate  from  General  Darling. 
Against  this  attempt  I  protested,  and  the  fencing  for  some 
cause  or  another  was  almost  immediately  after  discontinued. 
A  copy  of  this  protest  I  beg  leave  to  inclose,  and  as  it  is 
the  only  one  in  my  possession,  I  trust  it  will  be  returned. 

The  following  correspondence  traces  the  difficulty  from 
the  first  complaint.  In  1828  Father  Therry  had  protested 
against  what  he  regarded  as  a  Government  intrusion.  Follow- 
ing its  usual  procedure,  Government  sent  its  reply  to  the 
recognized  chaplain,  Father  Power: — 

Colonial  Secretary's  Office, 

Sydney,   12th  June,   1828. 
No.  28/3. 
Reverend  Sir, 

The  Reverend  J.  T.  Therry  having  complained  that 
part  of  the  ground  attached  to  the  Catholic  Chapel  &c.  has 
been  cut  off  by  the  fence  erected  by  the  Civil  Engineer,  I  am 


14a 


154  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

directed  to  inform  you  that  the  Surveyor-General  has  been 
instructed  to  cause  the  ground  to  be  remeasured  and  report 
the  result. 

I  have  etc., 

Alex.  McLeay. 
The  Revd.  D.  Power. 

No.  28/321. 

Colonial  Secretary's  Office. 

1 2th  June,  1828. 
Sir, 

The  Revd.  J.  J.  Therry  having  complained  that  part  of 
the  ground  attached  to  the  Catholic  Chapel  &c,  at  Sydney  has 
been  cut  off  by  the  fence  erected  by  the  Civil  Engineer,  I  am 
directed  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor  to  desire  that  you 
will  cause  the  ground  in  question  to  be  accurately  remeasured 
and  report  the  result. 

I  have,  &c, 
Alexr.  McLeay. 
The  Surveyor  General. 

The  Surveyor's  report  was   accordingly  submitted: — 
Surveyor  General's  Office, 

No.  190.  June  21st,  1828. 

Sir, 

In  compliance  with  the  directions  contained  in  your 
letter,  the  ground  attached  to  the  Catholic  Chapel  has  been 
remeasured,  and  the  result  is  that  the  fence  in  question  is  pre- 
cisely on  the  boundary  of  the  allotment,  as  defined  and  laid 
down  on  the  map,  the  first  time  it  was  measured. 

I  have  annexed  a  plan  of  the  ground,  and  adjoining  allot- 
ments as  first  laid  out,  from  which  it  will  appear  that  one 
building,  used  as  a  workshop  for  the  men  erecting  the  Chapel, 
is  on  a  contiguous  allotment,  and  another  building  (I  believe 
the  School  and  Chaplain's  residence)  projects  into  and  beyond 
an  intended  street. 

I  have  &c, 

William  Cordeaux. 
(In  the  absence  of  the  Surveyor-General) 
The  Honorable  A.  McLeay. 

On  15  July,  1828,  the  Colonial  Secretary  transmitted  to 
Father  Power  this  report,  as  well  as  the  notification  of  an 


FATHER   THERRY'S    PROPOSAL 


155 


4 


0- 


pTheRe<f  fine  cfeno  tesi  he  Fence  Istefy 
*  erected  by  fhe  C/V/VJ   £Wj  meer  fe'fi**  fthapp 
l(/vw«/7?e<f  £/ne"  shown  hereon\  iht/s "— t-Q 


Copied   Frorr*    Ran     trv  SKetcV\  Book.  Vol*  1  Fblio  3. 
Depoaihed   »r\  4W^  Depar+rocnh  of^tands   Sycfwey  r*S.  Wales. 

PLAN  ANNEXED  TO   CORDEAUX'S    LETTER 

arrangement  which  Father  Therry  had  proposed  to  the  Gov- 
ernment :- 


ii 


Mr.  Therry  has  also  submitted  to  the  Governor  a  proposal 
that,  if  His  Excellency  will  grant  to  the  Catholics  of  Sydney 
"the  piece  of  ground  bounded  by  the  old  garden  wall  on  the 
south,  by  the  wall  of  Woolloomooloo  on  the  east,  by  the  wall 
of  the  extern  demesne  on  the  north,  and  by  the  old  race 

11  Cardinal  Moran  {History,  p.  92),  gives  a  letter  of  Father  Therry's 
embodying  somewhat  similar  proposals  in  1822. 


156  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

grounds  or  Hyde  Park  on  the  west,  reserving  a  right  of  a  road 
for  Government  on  every  side,"  he  (Mr.  Therry)  will  relin- 
quish every  right,  title  and  claim,  which  he  has  to,  or  on  the 
Catholic  Chapel  and  Chapel-House,  in  favor  of  the  Right 
Reverend  Doctor  Slater,  the  Reverend  Philip  Conolly  and 
yourself. 

With  reference  to  these  several  communications,  I  am 
directed  to  inform  you  that  it  is  not  possible  to  comply  with 
the  proposal  contained  in  the  latter,  and  to  add  that  the  part 
of  the  Chapel  House  which  Mr.  Therry  appears  very  im- 
properly to  have  erected  on  ground  not  belonging  to  the 
Establishment  must  be  removed,  as  the  Lane  will  be  required 
by  the  Government,  and  cannot  be  given  up. 

You  will  be  pleased,  therefore,  to  consider  this  letter  as  a 
regular  notice,  and  warning  to  that  effect. 

I  have  &c, 

Alex.  McLeay. 

Father  Power  lost  no  time  in  assuring  the  Government 
that  he  would  take  no  objection  to  what  they  did;  he  added 
the  consoling  news  that  Father  Therry  had  assumed  powers 
which  he  did  not  possess,  and  that  a  sure  retribution  would 
follow : — 

Sir, 

In  reply  to  your  last  communication  which  I  had  the 
honor  to  receive,  all  the  information  which  I  could  procure 
relating  to  the  subject  therein  contained,  viz. : — The  Catholic 
Chapel  ground  at  Sydney,  from  the  Revd.  Mr.  Therry  is — 
that  an  area  of  400  square  feet  (sic)  had  been  conceded  for 
the  said  establishment. 

Altho'  this  statement  does  not  appear  to  accord  with  the 
scale  on  the  map,  yet  I  have  been  informed  by  several  who 
had  been  present  at  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  foundation 
stone,  that  the  said  square  of  400  feet,  equal  to  that  designated 
for  the  intended  gaol,  was  universally  understood  to  be  the 
extent  of  the  grant.  And  as  to  Rev.  Mr.  Therry's  proposals 
respecting  an  alienation  which  was  intimated  in  your  letter, 
he  has  no  authority  whatever  so  to  do.  It  is  church  property, 
and  according  to  Canon  Law,  any  person  monopolising  such 
as  his  private  property  incurs  the  censure  of  Major  excom- 
munication. For  his  turbulent  opposition  against  church  and 
state,  he  shall  have  very  soon  to  account  before  an  ecclesiastical 
tribunal. 


FATHER   THERRY    IMPRUDENT  157 

Father  Power  judged  the  matter  severely.  Father  Therry 
was  the  chaplain  placed  by  the  Bishop  over  the  colony.  He 
had  every  right  to  suggest  an  arrangement  which  he  might 
consider  suitable,  but  confirmation  from  his  superiors  would 
have  been  necessary  prior  to  any  definite  movement  for  alien- 
ation. It  is  possible  that  Father  Therry  possessed  such  liberal 
powers  from  his  Bishop.  He  was  wrong,  however,  to  regard 
the  land  as  if  it  were  his  personal  property;  the  land  should 
have  been  conveyed  to  Trustees  in  the  first  instance.  (This 
same  neglect  to  observe  the  strict  regulations  laid  down  by 
Canon  Law  regarding  church  property  led  him  into  greater 
and  more  lasting  difficulties  in  Tasmania.)  He  refused  to 
give  away  any  of  that  which  he  regarded  as  church  property. 
He  began  to  look  for  precedents  in  such  a  course  of  action,  and 
accordingly  assured  the  Governor  that  there  was  no  possibility 
of  his  relenting.  "I  can  truly  state"  he  writes,  "with  the 
great  St.  Ambrose,  the  holy  Bishop  of  Milan,  when  refusing 
the  use  of  a  certain  church  to  the  Empress,  that  if  His  Excel- 
lency should  require  my  personal  estate,  I  would  cheerfully 
surrender  it,  but  should  he  require  me  to  give  up  property  con- 
secrated to  a  sacred  purpose,  and  of  which  I  am  only  a  trustee 
or  guardian,  it  would  be  my  imperative  duty  to  refuse  without 
hesitation  to  comply  with  such  a  requisition,  though  that  refusal 
might  deprive  me  for  ever  of  His  Excellency's  favor." 

This  obstinate  refusal  to  obey  Government  orders  brought 
about  a  very  painful  situation,  which  was  relieved  only  by 
the  timely  arrival  of  Dr.  Ullathorne. 

Government  had  tired  of  waiting.  Father  Therry  would 
not  accept  the  suggestion  of  appointing  Trustees,  to  whom 
the  church  land  might  be  conveyed,  until  the  ownership  of 
the  strip  of  land  in  dispute  was  finally  decided.  The  position 
became  even  more  unpleasant  when  Mr.  Plunkett,  in  his 
capacity  of  Solicitor-General,  was  instructed  by  Government 
to  institute  proceedings  against  the  recalcitrant  priest. 

At  this  critical  period,  when  Father  Therry  would  cer- 
tainly have  lost  his  case  in  law,  and  incidentally  have  compro- 
mised Catholics  in  high  positions,  and  Catholic  interests  in 
general,  Dr.  Ullathorne  arrived  in  Sydney. 


CHAPTER  XL 

Two  stars  keep  not  their  motion  in  one  sphere. 

— Shakespeare. 

The  movement  in  England  in  favour  of  applying  to  Aus- 
tralia the  full  benefits  of  Catholic  Emancipation  was  gaining 
widespread  sympathy  and  the  interest  of  the  English  Govern- 
ment. Lord  Stanley  and  Bishop  Bramston  were  in  frequent 
communication  on  the  advisability  of  sending  additional 
chaplains  to  Australia,  and  even  at  this  date  had  contemplated 
suggesting  that  the  colony  should  be  placed  under  independent 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  The  need  for  a  recognized  superior 
on  the  mission  was  suddenly  emphasized  by  a  despatch  from 
Sir  Richard  Bourke,  explaining  the  dissentions  concerning  St. 
Mary's  Chapel  land — in  connection  with  which  the  local  Gov- 
ernment did  not  recognize  the  right  of  Father  Therry  to  speak 
authoritatively  for  Catholic  claims,  while  the  Church,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Bishop  of  Mauritius,  recognized  no  one  else. 
Father  Ullathorne,  an  English  Benedictine,  had  volun- 
teered for  the  Australian  Mission,  and  was  preparing  to  leave 
England — expecting  little  help  from  the  colonial  Government 
— when  the  despatch  of  Governor  Bourke  arrived.  "Mean- 
while," he  writes,1  "there  came  a  despatch  from  the  Governor 
of  New  South  Wales  to  the  Secretary  for  the  Colonies,  which 
changed  my  position  in  the  colonies.  His  Excellency  repre- 
sented to  the  Secretary  of  State  that  there  was  no  authorized 
head  of  the  Catholic  clergy  in  that  colony,  that  difficulties 
had  consequently  arisen  between  the  Government  and  the 
senior  priest  respecting  grants  of  land,  and  that  it  was  desir- 
able to  obtain  the  appointment  of  a  Catholic  dignitary  in- 
vested with  due  authority.  Bishop  Morris2  was  in  conse- 
quence invited  to  an  interview    at    the    Colonial  Office,  and 

1  Autobiography,  p.  55. 

2  Bishop  Slater  was  dead.     Dr.  Morris  was  his  successor  in  the  See 
of  Mauritius. 

158 


FATHER   ULLATHORNE    ARRIVES  159 

informed  the  Secretary  of  State  that  he  had  an  ecclesiastic 
in  view  as  Vicar-General  for  Australia,  with  residence  in  Syd- 
ney, who  would  have  all  the  authority  required.  This  was 
agreed  to,  and  a  stipend  was  assigned  by  the  Government  of 
£200  a  year,  an  allowance  of  £1  a  day  when  travelling  on  duty, 
and  for  voyage  and  outfit  £150.  The  title  assigned  to  me  by 
Government  in  documents,  beyond  that  of  Vicar-General,  was 
that  of  His  Majesty's  Catholic  Chaplain,  recommending  me  to 
the  Governor  of  the  Australian  Colonies. " 

Father  Therry  had  been  the  proper  man  to  lay  the  foun- 
dations of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Australia.  His  energy,  and 
even  his  holy  obstinacy,  fitted  him  for  such  a  task.  The 
crisis  of  1829  needed  another  leader,  and  found  one  in  Roger 
Therry.  A  new  crisis,  though  delayed  in  some  measure  by 
Father  McEncroe's  level-headed  policy,  had  now  arisen,  and 
demanded  a  man  of  keen  insight,  able  to  deal  diplomatically 
with  the  secular  authorities  both  at  home  and  abroad.  All 
these  qualifications  were  evident  in  Father  Ullathorne.  His 
career  in  Australia  was  confined  to  a  few  years,  but  they  were 
of  incalculable  value. 

The  arrival  of  Father  Ullathorne  at  Sydney  can  best  be 
described  from  his  own  letters  and  writings.  In  his  Auto- 
biography he  writes: — 8 

I  made  it  a  point  of  policy  not  to  send  any  previous  notice 
of  my  coming  to  Sydney,  where  I  arrived  in  the  month  of 
February,4  1833.  I  walked  up  straight  to  the  priests'  residence, 
and  there  I  found  a  grave  and  experienced  priest  in  Father 
McEncroe  ....  From  him  I  learnt  a  good  deal  of  how  things 
stood.  Father  Therry  had  gone  to  Parramatta,  but  quickly 
hearing  of  the  arrival  of  another  priest,  returned  that  even- 
ing  I  looked  so  youthful  that  the  first  language  of  Father 

Therry,  and  even  of  his  housekeeper,  was  naturally  patronis- 
ing. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  Father  Ullathorne  had  first 
landed  at  Hobart,  and  had  heard  from  Father  Conolly  a  none 
too  flattering  description  of  his  former  colleague.    He  there- 

3  pp.  65  sqq. 

4  On  the  18th.    Dean  Kenny  wrongly  gives  the  year  as  1832. 


160  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

fore  met  the  Father  Therry  whom  he  had  been  led  to  expect 
— ready  to  show  signs  of  friendship  if  the  new  arrival  should 
admit  his  subordinacy,  and  of  opposition  if  an  independent 
spirit  manifested  itself.  He  was  not  prepared  for  the  real 
Father  Therry,  as  his  narrative  shows : — 

After  dinner  I  produced  the  document  appointing  me 
Vicar-General,  with  jurisdiction  over  the  whole  of  New  South 
Wales,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  New  Holland,  after  reading  which 
Father  Therry  immediately  went  on  his  knees.  This  act  of 
obedience  and  submission  gave  me  great  relief.  I  felt  that  he 
was  a  truly  religious  man,  and  that  half  the  difficulty  was  over. 

In  such  wise  did  he  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  real 
man;  but  he  never  made  him  a  friend. 

There  is  in  all  Father  Ullathorne's  descriptions  of  his  first 
years  in  Australia  too  much  insistence  on  his  youthful  appear- 
ance, his  extraordinary  powers,  and  his  pleasure  in  display- 
ing them.  This  was  a  product  of  his  temperament,  and  helps 
us  to  understand  why  in  later  years  he  was  known  among  his 
fellows  in  England  as  "Monsignor  Ego  Solus"5  The  situa- 
tion that  confronted  him  in  Australia,  however,  was  one  in 
which  such  a  temperament  was  particularly  valuable.  "The 
next  morning,"  continues  the  Autobiography,  "as  I  came  from 
Mass  in  the  little  chapel,  Father  Therry  met  me  and  said :  'Sir, 
there  are  two  parties  among  us,  and  I  wish  to  put  you  in 
possession  of  my  ideas  on  the  subject.'  I  replied:  'No,  Father 
Therry,  if  you  will  pardon  me,  there  are  not  two  parties.'  He 
warmed  up,  as  his  quick  sensitive  nature  prompted,  and  re- 
plied, with  his  face  in  a  glow :  'What  can  you  know  about  it  ? 
You  have  only  just  arrived,  and  have  had  no  experience.' 
'Father  Therry,'  I  replied,  with  gravity,  'listen  to  me.  There 
were  two  parties  yesterday ;  there  are  none  to-day.  They  arose 
from  the  unfortunate  want  of  some  person  endowed  with 
ecclesiastical  authority,  which  is  now  at  an  end.  For  the 
present,  in  New  South  Wales,  I  represent  the  Church,  and 

5  Shane  Leslie's  Henry  Edward  Manning,  p.  491.  In  1887  Arch- 
bishop Ullathorne  claimed  that  as  "a  mere  youth"  he  had  "to  lay  the 
foundation"  of  the  Church  in  Australia    (loc.  cit.,  p.  492). 


THE    REVEREND    FATHER    ULLATHORNE,    O.S.B. 
(About  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Sydney) 


To  face  p.    160 


CHARACTER    OF    FATHER   THERRY  161 

those  who  gather  not  with  me  scatter.  So  now  there  is  an 
end  of  parties.'  "6 

Father  Ullathorne  has  left  many  sketches  of  the  character 
of  Father  Therry — as  he  conceived  it.  The  Autobiography, 
and  his  letters  published  in  Dom  Birt's  two  volumes,  give  a  pic- 
ture of  the  pioneer  priest  of  Australia  which  we  cannot  accept. 
To  Dr.  Morris  he  wrote : — 7 

The  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry  required  some  manage- 
ment at  first;  my  ideas  and  plans  were  "absurd,"  or  "folly," 
or  I  "had  joined  the  party  opposed  to  him."  These  expressions 
were  very  speedily  dropped.  He  next  tried  insinuation.  Thank 
God  who  enabled  me  to  see  through  it.  He  had  assumed  an 
appearance  and  expression  of  cordiality  from  the  commence- 
ment. I  am  convinced  he  is  now  sincerely  with  me  as  the  other 
two  clergymen  have  been  from  the  first  ....  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Therry  is  after  all  a  very  meritorious  clergyman.  He  is  inde- 
fatigable and  rests  neither  day  or  night.  I  am  convinced  he 
has  always  been  disposed  to  submit  to  ecclesiastical  authority 

He  possesses  no  great  learning  or  eloquence,  but  has 

experience,  good  sense,  and  is  much  attached  to  pious  obser- 
vances. I  do  not  wonder  at  his  popularity  among  the  poor 
Irish;  he  has  done  much  for  them,  and  is  the  arbitrator  of 
their  differences  and  their  constant  friend  and  adviser  in  diffi- 
culties. 

In  his  Autobiography*  he  writes : — 

Father  Therry  was  quite  an  exceptional  character.  He  was 
truly  religious,  never  omitting  to  say  Mass  daily  even  in  diffi- 
cult circumstances ;  and  up  the  country,  when  he  could  find 
no  appropriate  roof  for  the  purpose,  he  would  have  a  tent 
erected  in  some  field  or  on  some  mountain  side.  He  also  said 
the  Rosary  in  public  every  evening,  gathering  as  many  people 
as  he  could.  He  was  of  a  highly  sensitive  temperament  and 
readily  took  offence,  but  was  always  ready  to  make  reparation. 
....  Having  passed  from  trade  to  his  studies  he  had  sufficient 
knowledge  of  his  duties,  but  was  too  actively  employed  to  be 
a  reader.  Having  been  the  sole  priest  in  the  colony  for  some 
eleven  years,  he  was  very  popular,  not  only  with  the  poor 

0  Autobiography,  p.  66.     For  Father  Therry's  side,  see  Appendix  A, 
No.  23. 
7  Dated  17  April,  1833.    Benedictine  Pioneers  in   Australia,  \,  161. 
3  P.  67. 


162  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Catholics  but  with  all  classes  of  the  population.  Being  the  one 
representative  of  the  Church  in  those  times,  landed  property 
was  bequeathed  to  him  in  several  places  by  Catholics  who  had 
no  relatives  in  the  colony.  This  he  always  treated  as  his  private 
property,  though  he  never  took  much  trouble  about  it.  But 
in  his  will  he  bequeathed  it  all  to  religious  purposes. 

In  another  letter9  to  Bishop  Morris,  Father  Ullathorne 
sketches  his  colleague  again  : — 

Mr.  Therry,  after  having  so  long  had  full  sway,  evidently 
feels  it  irksome  a  little,  to  have  to  account  to  another  person ; 
at  the  same  time,  with  the  exception  of  one  instance,  he  has 
not  shown  it.  On  the  contrary,  he  studies  to  show  me  every 
attention  outwardly.  From  the  other  two  gentlemen  I  enjoy 
the  most  candid  and  cordial  co-operation.  Mr.  Therry  is  think- 
ing a  good  deal  of  paying  a  visit  to  England  and  Ireland ; 
whether  he  has  any  other  design  than  that  of  visiting  his 
friends  and  clearing  up  his  conduct  I  do  not  know.  He  is 
clever  at  a  scheme,  yet  I  have  no  right  or  cause  to  suspect  him. 
It  is  perhaps  my  duty  to  weigh  possibilities  as  well  as  proba- 
bilities. He  says  he  will  be  guided  by  my  advice  whether  he 
shall  go  or  not.  After  all  his  long  service,  I  could  not  refuse 
him  my  consent.  Perhaps  too,  his  absence  for  a  time  would 
enable  us  to  put  things  better  into  permanent  order. 

The  chapel  administration  is  also  criticised — but,  with 
some  justice: — 

!  With  respect  to  our  church  in  Sydney,  I  am  in  some  dif- 
culty My  principal  difficulty  after  all  is,  that  I  can  pro- 
cure no  regular  accounts  of  the  monies  received  from  the 
people  and  expended,  with  the  how  expended,  on  the  build- 
ing. 10  If  I  could  do  this  I  might  at  once  assert  a  clear  claim 
grounded  on  the  promises  of  former  Governors.  The  general 
opinion  is  that  at  least  £6000  has  been  collected  for  this  build- 
ing. Mr.  Therry's  general  estimate  of  expenditure  is  that 
£5000  has  been  spent  on  the  Church,  and  £1100  on  the  Pres- 
bytery and  a  small  chapel  annexed,  dedicated  to  St.  Joseph. 

It  is  my  decided  opinion,  confirmed  by  the  common 

opinion,  that  there  has  been  a  great  deal  of  mismanagement, 

9  Dated   10  July,   1833.     Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.,  208. 

10  A  score  of  ledgers  among  the  Therry  Papers  at  Loyola,  showing 
what  appear  very  full  accounts  of  receipts  and  disbursements,  give  us 
some  reason  to  think  this  statement  exaggerated. 


THE    BATTLE   ALMOST   WON  163 

somewhere,  of  the  money  collected  for  the  Sydney  Church. 
Mr.  Therry  says  he  is  £600  amerced  in  debt  on  the  account  of 
this  building;  and  yet  till  Government  last  year  gave  £500  for 
roofing  and  flooring  the  building,  nothing  was  done  but  the 
mere  walls. 


Father  Ullathorne,  it  is  clear,  did  not  fully  realize  the  dif- 
ficulties of  preceding  years.  He  had  been  welcomed  on 
arrival  by  a  Governor  who  had  stated  his  policy  in  these  words : 
"I  have  set  my  heart  on  laying  a  good  foundation  whilst  I  am 
in  office.  I  dread  much,  even  in  this  reforming  age,  the  blight- 
ing influence  of  religious  intolerance."11  What  a  contrast  to 
the  formidable  document  presented  by  Governor  Macquarie 
to  Father  Therry  on  his  arrival,  in  which  were  notified  the 
severe  penalties  attached  to  non-recognition  of  the  Governor 
as  Pontiff  of  the  Colonial  Catholic  Church !  Father  Ullathorne 
had  no  cause  to  reply  that  he  had  no  intention  of  obeying 
Government  regulations  in  spiritual  matters.  He  came  at  a 
time  when  the  battles  of  thirteen  years  had  extorted  from 
Government  almost  a  just  recognition  of  Catholic  claims. 
Catholic  Emancipation  had  been  passed.  Even  the  Home  Gov- 
ernment was  displaying  a  lively  interest  in  the  claims  of  the 
Colonial  Catholics.  He  was  not  alone  in  the  vast  colony.  He 
was  Vicar-General,  assisted  by  three  energetic  priests.  Taking 
all  this  into  account,  his  criticisms  concerning  the  work  of 
Father  Therry  in  New  South  Wales  are,  on  the  most  charit- 
able estimate,  unsympathetic  and  unappreciative  of  the  great 
work  begun  and  built  up  by  the  priest  whom  he  superseded. 

This  want  of  confidence  between  the  two  priests  was  not 
unknown  to  the  people.  They  appreciated  the  tact  and  ability  of 
the  new  arrival;  they  enjoyed  the  fruits  of  his  successes  with 
Government.  But  the  priest  who  had  borne  the  heat  and  bur- 
den of  the  long  days  of  persecution,  whose  missionary  labours 
were  likened  to  those  of  St.  Paul  on  account  of  the  extent  of 
his  journeys  and  undertakings — he  still  remained  the  idol  of 
the  people's  affections.    Father  Ullathorne  eventually  realized 

"Therry,  Reminiscences,  p.  157. 


164  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

what  this   deprivation   of   sympathy  meant  to   the   suffering 
priest,  and  wrote  to  him  on  4  October,  1833: — 12 

Revd.  Sir  and  My  dear  Friend, 

I  duly  appreciate  your  answer  to  my  letter.  The 
writing  of  it  must  have  been  as  painful  to  you,  as,  I  beg  leave 
to  assure  you,  mine  was  to  me.  There  may  have  been  parts  of 
my  conduct  which  may  have  seemed  to  you  as  if  directed  per- 
sonally against  you,  from  the  manner  in  which,  perhaps,  they 
may  have  been  represented  to  you,  but  God,  who  sees  my 
heart  and  searches  my  intentions,  forbid  they  should  be  so  in 
reality.  I  have  never  listened  to  vague  representations  against 
you ;  I  have  always  checked  any  inclination  to  prejudice  me 
against  you,  and  taken  up  your  defence  against  such  tattlers. 
I  always  confided  in  you.  respected  you,  and  praised  your  good 
qualities;  and  thank  God,  I  do  still,  and  you  have  just  added 
another  reason  why  I  should.  Complaint  and  remonstrance 
I  shall  always  listen  to.  both  as  a  right  in  you  and  a  duty  in  me. 

I  believe  there  are  some  circumstances  which  are  not  yet 
sufficiently  explained,  and  these  it  will  give  me  great  satis- 
faction so  to  do,  that  there  may  not  be  a  prejudice  left,  but 
every  one  be  put  to  death  by  a  simple  statement  of  their  reality. 

I  remain,  my  dear  Sir, 
Your  very  humble  obedient  servant, 

Wm.  Ullathorne. 

The  measures  adopted  by  the  Vicar-General  at  this  critical 
period  make  him  a  great  figure  in  Australian  History.  Pre- 
cision was  his  characteristic.  His  keen  intellect,  summing  up 
the  difficulties  between  Church  and  State,  saw  at  once  their 
full  extent,  and  devised  at  the  same  time  means  for  a  satis- 
factory conclusion.  He  was  confronted  at  the  beginning  of  his 
rule  by  the  controversy  over  the  ownership  of  St.  Mary's  land ; 
and,  as  was  his  custom,  he  acted  immediately.  He  afterwards 
wrote  to  Bishop  Morris: — 18 

The  Government  was  equally  relieved  by  my  arrival,  they 
being  on  the  point  of  proceeding  to  law  with  Mr.  Therry  for 

his  encroachments  on  Crown  property The  Governor 

received  me  with  great  kindness,  and  although  very  unwell  at 
the  time,  gave  me  an  audience  in  his  bedroom.   On  the  Sunday 

12  From  the  Manly  Archives. 

13  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.,   159  sqq. 


ELECTION    OF    TRUSTEES  165 

after  my  arrival,  I  announced  my  powers  from  the  Altar,  took 
the  whole  of  affairs  into  my  own  hands,  and  promised  as  soon 
as  I  should  have  had  time  thoroughly  to  sift  matters  to  bring 
them  to  an  arrangement.  On  the  third  Sunday  after  my  arrival, 
having  satisfied  myself  on  the  real  state  of  things  and  ascer- 
tained the  sentiments  and  feelings  of  all  parties  concerned; 
after  offering  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  and  giving  a  strong  and  some- 
what vehement  exhortation  to  unity  and  submission  to  author- 
ity, I  held  the  meeting  in  the  chapel,  took  the  chair,  with  Mr. 
Commissioner  Therry  as  Secretary,  and  proposed  my  arrange- 
ment. I  had  two  dangers  to  guard  against :  Cabal  and  intrigue 
in  the  election  of  trustees ;  and  the  ripping  up  old  feuds  and 
stories,  which  I  was  anxious  should  not  be  brought  publicly 
before  my  notice,  as  the  best  means  of  their  being  buried  for 
ever.  I  therefore  impressed  upon  them  that  they  were  not  met 
to  discuss,  but  to  elect,  and  proposed  that  there  should  be 
appointed  six  trustees — three  clerical  and  three  laymen.  The 
clergymen  to  be  appointed  by  myself,  the  laymen  to  be  freely 
elected  from  the  congregation  by  themselves.  That  to  prevent 
dissension  and  angry  feeling  they  should  not  be  nominated  or 
proposed,  but  be  chosen,  at  once,  by  ballot.  I  had  now  gained 
my  point,  they  forgot  their  prepared  speeches  and  long  stories, 
and  proceeded  in  silence  and  order  to  write  the  names  of  the 
individuals  they  would  vote  for  on  slips  of  paper,  consigned 
them  to  the  box,  and  the  three  most  respectable  and  intelligent 
men  of  the  congregation  were  thus  elected:  viz. — Mr.  Therry, 
Commissioner  for  Court  of  Requests,  Mr.  Solicitor-General 
Plunkett  and  Mr.  Murphy.  The  announcement  spread  univer- 
sal satisfaction.  Being  now  assured  that  no  intrigue  had  been 
employed,  I  nominated,  with  myself,  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry  and 
the  Rev.  J.  McEncroe  as  the  clerical  trustees.  I  now  opened 
their  mouths  and  we  had  a  display  of  the  warmest  cordiality 
and  unanimity. 

We,  the  trustees,  are  now  in  treaty  with  Government  for 
the  extent  of  land  to  be  granted  us.  I  send  your  Lordship 
a  copy  of  the  memorial  which  I  drew  up  for  the  Governor  on 
the  subject,  to  which  nothing  definite  has,  as  yet,  been  answered. 
I  think  we  shall  probably  obtain  about  four  acres  attached  to 
the  church,14  and  a  further  grant  somewhere  near  the  town 
for  a  seminary.  The  laws  here  will  not  allow  of  burial  near 
the  church,  we  have  a  burial  ground  of  about  four  acres  a  mile 
from  Sydney. 

14  By  the  courtesy  of  the  Under-Secretary  for  Lands  and  of  Mr.  H. 
Selkirk,  the  Crown  Grants  made  to  St.  Mary's  are  given  in  Appendix  C. 


166  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Since  the  affair  of  appointing  trustees,  it  gives  me  great 
happiness  to  inform  your  Lordship  that  all  party  and  division 
has  ceased  in  the  Church.  Clergymen  and  laymen,  we  are  all 
cordially  united.  Nor  do  I  again  fear  division.  The  people  are 
tired  of  it,  they  have  in  general  been  reluctant  spectators  of 
the  scandals  it  has  caused.  And,  the  authority  I  hold  from  your 
Lordship,  the  attention  I  receive  from  Government  and  from 
all  persons,  and  the  popularity  which  my  efforts  have  procured 
me  for  the  good  of  religion,  were  anyone  so  disposed,  would 
make  any  attempt  at  division  abortive. 

The  most  gratifying  example  of  the  tolerant  spirit  now 
growing  in  the  colony  was  the  movement  for  revoking  the 
Charter  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Clergy  and  Schools  Lands,  by 
which  the  Anglican  Church  had  been  made  prosperous  while 
every  other  form  of  worship  remained  impoverished.  To  one 
who  had  lived  and  suffered  under  Darling,  and  who  remem- 
bered the  days  of  Archdeacon  Hobbes  Scott  and  his  orphan 
schools,  the  change  would  seem  incredible.  Catholics  had  only 
to  ask;  for,  if  Governor  Bourke  saw  the  justice  of  the  request, 
and  had  the  power  and  the  means  to  grant  it,  he  would  not 
hesitate  in  helping  any  religion.  Father  Ullathorne's  Report  of 
1837  to  Propaganda  gives  a  gratifying  picture  of  these  humane 
measures : — 15 

Besides  the  schools  established  at  Sydney,  Parramatta  and 
Campbell  Town,  I  found  means  to  build  two  others  in  Sydney, 
each  having  separate  divisions  for  boys  and  girls,  another  at 
Windsor,  one  at  Liverpool,  one  at  Appin,  and  one  at  Maitland. 
...  It  was  agreed  that  four  acres  of  land  should  be  given  us  in 
each  town  for  a  site  for  chapel,  school  and  presbytery;  and 
that  the  funds  collected  by  us  should  be  doubled  by  the 
Government.  Soon  after  my  letter  to  the  Vicar  Apostolic  in 
the  Mauritius.  I  presented  a  petition  to  the  Government  for  an 
increase  of  clergy  and  we  were  granted  salaries  for  four  more 
priests.  I  wrote  at  once  to  England  urging  strongly  for  the 
appointment  of  a  Vicar  Apostolic.  .  .  .  The  Governor,  Sir 
Richard  Bourke  strongly  urged  the  home  Government  >to 
maintain  ^religion  in  the  Colonies;  but  successive  changes  of 
Government  in  England  prevented  an, answer  for  three  years; 
this  document  suggested  entire  equality  amongst  religions ;  no 

15  Benedictine   Pioneers   in   Australia,   L,   212. 


RELIGIOUS    EQUALITY   ADVOCATED  167 

predominance  for  Protestantism ;  to  give  salaries  according  to 
the  number  of  parishioners ;  to  grant  money  for  church  build- 
ing equal  to  what  was  collected  in  donations,  to  maintain 
existing  schools,  and  to  make  education  free.  My  increase  of 
salary  was  a  spontaneous  act  on  the  part  of  the  Governor. 
The  Government  showed  no  desire  to  interfere  with  our  dis- 
cipline or  practices,  and  we,  on  our  side,  kept  aloof  from 
politics.  The  sole  attempt  made  against  ecclesiastical  liberty 
was  that  of  the  Protestant  Archdeacon  (Dr.  Broughton)  who 
wanted  to  have  charge  of  our  baptismal  and  marriage  registers ; 
but  this  endeavour  was  quickly  defeated. 

This  change  in  public  opinion  was  the  successful  climax 
to  all  Father  Therry's  efforts  during  the  thirteen  years  of  his 
stay  in  Australia.  He  had  prepared  the  way.  He  had  formed 
the  Catholic  community  into  what  it  was — a  strongly  united, 
uncompromising  body  of  men  and  women,  full  of  the  faith 
of  their  fathers.  By  the  example  of  their  first  pastor  they  had 
learned  to  fight  for  their  rights.  Had  he  yielded  meekly  to 
official  aggression,  then,  as  Governor  Brisbane  testified,  "the 
Catholic  religion  would  have  long  ago  vanished  from  these 
shores."  Others,  more  capable  than  he,  were  now  pushing 
Catholic  claims  towards  the  summit  of  that  success  at  which 
he  had  aimed,  and  which  he  narrowly  missed  attaining. 

By  an  Order  in  Council,  gazetted  on  28  August,  1833,  the 
Church  and  School  Corporation  was  dissolved  as  from  4 
February,  1833.  The  almost  unlimited  power  which  had  been 
granted  to  the  Corporation  became  eventually  the  reason  for 
its  collapse.  Sir  Richard  Bourke,  realizing  the  temper  of  the 
Home  Authorities,  lost  no  time  in  proposing  to  them  a  scheme 
for  more  considerate  treatment  of  all  religious  organizations.16 
In  Father  Ullathorne's  report  to  Propaganda,  already  quoted,  a 
summary  of  his  suggestions  has  been  given.  His  Excellency 
dealt  with  all  phases  of  religious  belief  and  methods  of  in- 
struction. In  the  colony,  he  wrote,  members  of  the  Church 
of  England  were  the  most  numerous ;  there  were  also  large 
bodies  of  Catholics,  Presbyterians  and  Protestant  dissenters. 
The  charge  on  the  Treasury  for  the  next  year  would  be  £11,542 


18  Letter  to   Lord   Stanley,  30  September,   1833. 


168  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

for  Anglicans  and  £1,500  for  Catholics.  The  chaplains  of  the 
Church  of  England  were  provided  with  glebes  of  forty  acres 
each,  or  with  a  money  allowance  in  lieu,  and  with  houses  or 
lodging  money.  Catholics  and  Presbyterians  were  not  so 
favoured.  There  had  been  general  complaints  of  such  an  ir- 
regular distribution ;  "and  a  petition  to  the  Governor  and  Legis- 
lative Council  has  been  lately  prepared  at  a  public  meeting,  and 
very  numerously  signed,  praying  for  a  reduction  of  the  ex- 
penditure." He  suggested  a  method  of  equal  assistance  that 
would  be  just  to  all.  "If  support  were  given  as  required,  to 
every  one  of  the  three  great  divisions  of  Christians  indiffer- 
ently, and  the  management  of  the  temporalities  left  to  them- 
selves, I  conceive  that  the  Public  Treasury  might  in  time  be  re- 
lieved of  a  considerable  charge ;  and,  what  is  of  much  greater 
importance,  the  people  would  become  more  attached  to  their 
respective  churches,  and  be  more  willing  to  listen  to,  and  obey, 
the  voice  of  their  respective  pastors."17  The  Governor  went  on 
to  call  attention  to  the  great  disproportion  noticeable  in  the 
education  estimates,  on  which  in  1834  £8000  was  provided  for 
Church  of  England  schools  and  £800  for  those  belonging  to 
the  Catholics. 

During  all  these  successful  movements  the  case  of  Father 
Therry  was  not  forgotten  by  the  people.  He  was  urged  to 
petition  the  Governor  for  reinstatement  as  Government  Chap- 
lain.   In  June,  1833,  he  put  forward  his  claim. 

To  His  Excellency  Major-General  Bourke,  Governor 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Territory  of 
New  South  Wales  and  its  Dependencies,  &c,  &c,  &c,  and 
to  the  Honourable  the  Legislative  Council. 

The  Petition  of  the  Reverend  John  Joseph  Therry,  Mission- 
ary Apostolic, 

Respectfully  Sheweth, 

That  your  Petitioner  arrived  in  this  Colony  up- 
wards of  thirteen  years  since,  with  full  Pastoral  jurisdiction 
over  the  Catholic  population  of  New  South  Wales,  and  under 
the  sanction  of  the  then  Colonial  Secretary,  the  Right  Honor- 
able Earl  Bathurst. 

1T  Kenny,  p.  63. 


FATHER   THERRY'S    PETITION  169 

That  this  spiritual  jurisdiction  he  continues  to  possess, 
notwithstanding  the  recent  arrival  of  a  gentleman,  invested 
as  Vicar  General,  with  still  superior  Ecclesiastical  authority. 

That  for  having  in  June  1825,  published  an  article  (a  cor- 
rect copy  of  which  accompanies  this),  in  the  Sydney  Gazette, 
(which  article  commences  with  the  words  "The  Roman 
Catholic  Chaplain,"  and  terminates  with  the  word  "respect"), 
Petitioner  was  removed  from  his  Official  situation  as  Govern- 
ment Chaplain,  and  his  salary  withdrawn,  by  order  of  Earl 
Bathurst,  who,  at  the  same  time,  ordered  that  three  hundred 
pounds  sterling  should  be  given  to  Petitioner  to  provide  a 
passage  to  England,  should  he  wish  to  return  thereto. 

That  Petitioner  could  not  for  any  temporal  consideration 
whatever,  without  compromising  an  imperative  and  most 
sacred  duty,  consent,  at  that  time  to  leave  the  Colony,  circum- 
stanced as  the  flock  committed  to  his  pastoral  care  then  were. 

That  through  the  negligence  of  the  compositor  of  the 
Gazette,  or  the  malice  of  some  person  or  persons  having  in- 
fluence over  him,  a  fatal  typical  error  appeared  in  the  word 
immediately  preceding  the  last  one  of  that  article,  by  which 
an  expression  of  respect  was  converted  into  one  of  absolute 
contempt  for  the  Protestant  Chaplains  of  the  Colony. 

That  the  Editor  of  that  paper  declined  to  republish  the 
article  in  an  amended  form,  in  accordance  with  the  manu- 
script in  his  possession,  but  he  briefly  apologised  for  the 
mistake  of  his  compositor  in  rather  an  obscure  part  of  a 
subsequent  number. 

That  the  article  thus  incorrectly  published,  was  trans- 
mitted to  the  Noble  Secretary  of  State,  who  it  is  probable 
has  never  since  seen  or  heard  of  the  Editor's  apology  or 
explanation. 

That  as  Petitioner  was  in  consequence  represented  to  his 
Lordship  to  have  published,  in  the  only  official  public  paper 
in  the  Colony,  that  he  entertained  only  a  qualified  respect  for 
the  Government  Chaplains,  a  sort  of  respect  which  of  course 
is  due  even  to  the  most  degraded  portion  of  our  aborigines ; 
that  nobleman  is  not  to  be  blamed  for  having  removed  from 
his  Official  situation,  a  person  who,  he  believed  had  offered  so 
unwarrantable  and  unmerited  an  insult  to  a  highly  respectable 
body  of  Government  Officers. 

That  Petitioner  has  from  the  time  of  his  removal  from 
the  office  of  Chaplain  to  the  present,  continued  uninterrup- 
tedly to  perform  gratuitously  the  various  duties  of  it,  and  it  is 


170  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

generally  known  that  the  performance  of  these  duties  is  often 
attended  with  considerable  expense,  and  almost  always  with 
great  mental  or  corporal  labour. 

That  having,  as  in  duty  bound  to  do,  placed  firm  con- 
fidence in  an  Official  promise  made  to  him  by  the  local  Gov- 
ernment (which  was  published  in  the  Sydney  Gazette, 
December,  1822) ,  to  pay  a  moiety  of  whatever  expenses 
should  have  been  incurred  after  its  date,  in  proceeding  with 
and  completing  the  Catholic  Chapel,  Hyde  Park,  he  was  en- 
couraged to  collect  and  apply  to  that  purpose  upwards  of  five 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  and  to  incur  debts  on  its  account, 
amounting  to  about  six  hundred  pounds  more. 

That  of  the  latter  sum  he  has  paid  in  cash  within  the  last 
eighteen  months  from  his  personal  resources,  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  and  by  his  personal  Bills  within  the  same 
period,  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling.  That  on  the 
recommendation  of  His  Excellency,  General  Bourke,  five 
Gentlemen  have  been  appointed  to  act  with  Petitioner  as 
Trustees  for  that  building,  &c,  but  these  Gentlemen  have  not 
consented  to  take  upon  themselves  either  individually  or  col- 
lectively, any  responsibility  for  its  debts  (a  responsibility 
that  should  be  inseperable  (sic)  from  that  Trusteeship),  or 
to  compensate  or  indemnify  the  Petitioner  in  any  way  for  the 
labour,  solicitude,  and  expense  which  he  has,  for  more  than 
ten  years,  devoted  to  that  and  the  other  ecclesiastical  build- 
ings. 

That  as  these  Trustees  have  been  appointed  by  desire  of 
the  local  Government,  and  have  not  funds  available  for  that 
purpose,  the  same  Government  should  contribute  in  some 
way  to  enable  them  to  pay  the  debts  attached  to  their  Office. 

That  as  the  whole,  or  at  least  the  principal  part  of  the 
duties  of  the  Chaplaincy  are  comprised  in  those  which  he  has 
continued  to  perform  for  the  last  seven  years,  Petitioner 
solicits  that  the  salary  annexed  to  the  Chaplaincy  may  now 
be  given  to  him  for  the  whole  of  that  time,  and  that  two 
hundred  pounds  per  annum  may  in  future  be  allowed  him  as 
the  Senior  Catholic  Clergyman  of  the  Colony:  and  that  in 
the  event  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor  and  the  Honour- 
able the  Legislative  Council  not  deeming  it  expedient  to  grant 
the  compensation  which  he  here  solicits,  and  which,  as  a 
deeply  and  unmeritedly  injured  man,  he  conceives  he  is 
authorised  to  expect  from  the  hands  of  so  liberal  and  bene- 
volent a  Government  as  the  present  one,  is  universally  ac- 


PETITION    NOT   GRANTED  171 

knowledged  to  be,  the  Petitioner  trusts  that  there  may  be 
no  difficulty  on  the  part  of  Government  to  prevent  his  receiv- 
ing at  present  the  sum  of  three  hundred  pounds  sterling,  ord- 
ered him  by  the  Right  Honourable  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Colonies,  at  the  time  of  Petitioner's  removal  from  office,  as 
this  sum  would  serve,  and  is  required,  to  diminish  his  pecuni- 
ary responsibilities,  and  to  assist  to  enable  him  to  proceed 
to  England  by  an  early  opportunity. 

And  your  Petitioner  will  ever  pray,  &c, 

John  Joseph  Therry,  Missionary  Apostolic 

Chapel  House,  Hyde  Park, 

Sydney,  June,  1833. 

To  the  petition  was  appended  a  testimony  from  the  Vicar- 
General  : — 

Believing  the  statement  of  the  case  of  the  Rev.  John 
Joseph  Therry,  as  given  above,  to  be  correct; — convinced 
that  that  Rev.  Gentleman  has  been  much  misapprehended, 
having  been  myself  much  more  than  satisfied  with  the  Rev. 
Gentlemen's  conduct  since  my  arrival  in  the  Colony,  from  a 
sense  both  of  duty  and  of  justice,  I  beg  leave  most  earnestly 
to  recommend  the  application  of  the  Rev.  John  Joseph  Therry 
to  the  favourable  consideration  of  His  Excellency  Major- 
General  Bourke  and  the  Honourable  the  Legislative  CounciL 
William  Ullathorne,  Vicar  General. 

The  Governor  could  only  regret  that,  as  Father  Therry 
had  been  suspended  by  the  Home  Government,  reinstatement 
was  not  in  his  power.  The  petition  was  sent  to  England,  and 
nothing  further  came  of  it. 

Father  Therry  continued  to  make  St.  Mary's  his  Sydney 
headquarters.  Father  Ullathorne  and  Father  McEncroe  were 
busy  with  attention  to  sick-calls,  hospital,  convicts  and  the 
usual  church  functions  in  Sydney  and  its  neighbourhood. 
Father  Dowling  was  at  Windsor.  Father  Therry  was  there- 
fore able  to  go  further  and  more  frequently  into  the  country 
districts — Parramatta,  Goulburn,  Bathurst,  the  Hunter  River 
— and  especially  Campbelltown ;  most  of  his  baptismal  entries 
for  this  year  concern  people  in  that  district.  At  this  time  he 
was  once  more  involved  in  land  difficulties.  At  Parramatta  a 
man  named  Neilan  had  laid  claim  to  a  portion  of  the  Church 


172  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

land,  which  he  said  had  been  granted  him  by  Father  Power. 
Father  Therry  contended  that  Father  Power  had  no  right  to 
alienate  Church  land ;  but  the  claim  in  any  case  failed,  because 
John  Oxley  (the  surveyor)  had  not  procured  a  regular  de- 
scription of  the  original  grant  on  the  Chart.  As  for  his 
other  activities,  a  letter  from  his  Bathurst  representative,  sent 
there  to  collect  funds  for  St.  Mary's,  informs  us  that  "the 
people  are  responding  well,  but  they  will  refuse  to  give  any 
more  to  a  Sydney  Church,  until  Father  Therry  builds  them  a 
Church  at  Bathurst." 

The  new  experience  of  companionship  with  willing  help- 
ers revived  in  Father  Therry  a  desire  of  long  standing,  hither- 
to made  impossible  by  the  stress  of  more  important  work.  Now 
he  was  free.  There  were  three  priests  besides  himself  to  do 
what  he  previously  had  done  alone.  Caught  up  in  this  desire, 
he  addressed  to  G.  K.  Holden,  Esq.,  a  memorial  on  behalf  of 
the  neglected  aborigines: — 18 

Sir, 

At  the  commencement  of  General  Darling's  administra- 
tion, I  did  myself  the  honor,  to  propose  to  His  Excellency  my 
willingness  to  take  charge  of  fifty  of  the  aboriginal  youth,  on 
condition,  that  the  Government  would  supply  them  with  pro- 
visions, clothing,  and  other  necessaries,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  give  satisfactory  security,  that  I  should  not  at  any  time 
thereafter  require  for  my  superintendence  any  salary,  or 
advantage,  whatever,  directly  or  indirectly ;  and  I  had  also  the 
honor  to  receive  His  Excellency's  official  assurance,  that  as 
soon  as  the  general  circumstances  of  the  Aborigines  should  be 
taken  into  consideration  by  the  Government,  my  offer  should 
then  be  considered;  and  as  that  time  has  long  since  arrived, 
and  no  communication  on  this  subject  been  received  by  me  I 
have  reason  to  apprehend  that  both  my  offer  and  His  Excell- 
ency's promise  have  been  forgotten.  Whilst  I  had  reason  to 
calculate  with  any  degree  of  certainty  on  its  fulfilment,  I  con- 
tinued to  administer  the  sacred  rites  of  Baptism  to  the  infants 
of  this  much  degraded  but  most  unjustly  injured  race,  often 
at  the  request,  but  always  with  the  consent,  of  their  parents. 
Many  of  these  children  have  attained  the  use  of  reason,  and 
some  nearly  the  age  of  maturity,  and  are  still  utterly  desti- 

ls2o  July,  1834. 


RELATIONS    WITH    THE    ABORIGINES  173 

tute  of  means  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  rudiments  of 
religion,  and  moral  education.  And  therefore,  am  I  induced 
again  to  submit,  as  I  now  do,  my  offer  to  the  favourable  con- 
sideration of  our  humane  and  excellent  Governor,  and  to  add 
in  the  event  of  that  offer  being  accepted,  I  shall  with  great 
pleasure  either  give  five  acres  of  my  land  adjoining  the  Liver- 
pool Road,  should  that  situation  be  approved  of,  to  any  trustees 
that  may  be  appointed  by  Government,  as  a  place  for  their 
residence  and  education,  or  will  provide  for  them  pro  tempore 
an  asylum  free  of  rent  on  the  Chapel  ground. 

I  have,  &c, 

J.  J.  Therry. 

From  his  first  years  in  the  Colony  Father  Therry  had  won 
the  esteem  of  the  aboriginal  people.  Father  Ullathorne  wrote 
that  "Father  Therry  was  habitually  kind  to  these  poor  crea- 
tures, who  camped  and  held  their  dances  and  funerals  in  a 
valley  by  the  sea  shore,  about  half  a  mile  below  our  residence. 
He  often  fed  them  when  in  want."  Archbishop  Polding, 
writing  in  1840,19  gives  another  testimony  of  their  affection 
for  Father  Therry.  "Nothing  is  more  affecting  than  to  hear 
the  native  tribes  speak  of  their  attachment  to  Father  Therry, 
who  during  several  years  was  alone  occupied  with  their  salva- 
tion ;  so  that,  if  you  wish  to  give  them  a  favorable  idea  of  the 
priests,  you  have  only  to  represent  them  as  brothers  of  Father 
Therry,  and  the  Bishop  as  father  of  all." 

On  arrival  Father  Ullathorne  had  taken  over  the  control 
of  church  affairs ;  but  he  seems  to  have  hesitated  for  more  than 
twelve  months  before  assuming  control  of  the  chapel  as  well. 
He  frequently  complained  that  no  records  were  available;  in 
fact,  the  records  of  each  year,  although  compiled  in  an  unbusi- 
nesslike fashion,  are  still  extant.  Records  dated  considerably 
after  the  Vicar  General's  arrival  show  that  Father  Therry  still 
continued  to  collect  and  pay  money  for  work  on  St.  Mary's. 
One  such  statement  is  to  the  effect  that  "sums  recently  paid 
to  Father  Therry  for  Chapel"  amounted  to  £246,  and  that  the 
total  amount  of  money  paid  out  by  him  for  this  purpose, 
from  the  commencement  of  1832  till  7  June,  1834,  was  £774. 

19  Cardinal  Mo  ran,  pp.  303  sqq. 


174  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Father  Ullathorne  realized  the  difficulties  of  such  a  position, 
and  on  January  8,  1834,  wrote  to  Father  Therry  to  bring  the 
whole  matter  to  a  close: — 

Revd.  dear  Sir, 

You  will  much  oblige  me  by  furnishing  me  at 
your  earliest  convenience  with  all  such  accounts  as  you  may  be 
able  to  furnish  me  respecting  St.  Mary's  Church  and  the 
Chapel  House  &c,  viz. : — of  all  contributions  received  towards 
those  buildings,  and  expenses  incurred  on  their  account.  Also 
an  account  of  the  number  and  amount  in  value  of  the  Pro- 
missory Notes  signed  on  account  of  said  buildings,  amount 
of  value  received  on  account  of  those  notes,  and  amount  of 
expense  incurred  in  collecting  and  value  received. 

I  likewise  think  it  my  duty  to  intimate  that  no  collections 
for  ecclesiastical  purposes  should  henceforth  be  originated  or 
set  on  foot  without  my  knowledge  and  consent. 

Yours  &c, 

Wm.  Ullathorne,  V.G. 

Such  accounts  were  not  easy  to  render.  Many  of  the  gifts 
to  St.  Mary's  had  been  made  in  kind;  a  dozen  sheep,  a  cow, 
wheat  or  corn  or  flour,  or  bales  of  lucerne — all  these,  with 
promises  of  similar  gifts  to  follow.  Even  the  money  gifts  were 
hard  to  account  for ;  they  had  often  been  expended  on  the  day 
of  receipt,  to  meet  the  urgent  demands  of  carpenters  or  stone- 
masons, aggrieved  by  the  long  delay  in  making  payments. 
Moreover,  Father  Therry  had  made  himself  personally  re- 
sponsible for  some  hundreds  of  pounds.  A  guarantee  for  re- 
payment was  necessary,  and  to  secure  this  Father  Therry  drew 
up  a  set  of  conditions  satisfactory  to  both  parties: — 

The  promissory  notes  signed  by  the  Revd.  J.  J.  Therry 
amount  to  rather  more  than  £1800,  which  notes  were  originally 
intended  to  be  appropriated  to  the  three  following  purposes, 
viz.: 

One-third  to  defray  the  debts  contracted  by  Mr.  Therry 
on  St.  Mary's  account.  One-third  towards  completing  that 
edifice.  One-third  towards  repairing  and  completing  the  Chapel 
House. 

The  debts  already  liquidated  and  to  be  liquidated  amount 
to  about  one-third  of  the  value  of  the  notes ;  and  as  the  debts 
are  most  urgent,  it  is  but  just  that  the  first  sums  collected  be 


FINANCIAL   ARRANGEMENTS  175 

applied  to  the  liquidation  of  those  debts.  After  the  debts  have 
been  liquidated  there  will  still  remain  about  two-thirds  of  the 
original  amount  of  the  notes,  which  when  collected  will  be 
appropriated  by  Mr.  Therry  for  the  other  two  objects  specified, 
subject  of  course,  to  approbation. 

The  foregoing  arrangements  were  submitted  to  Father 
Ullathorne,  who  endorsed  the  scheme  in  these  words: — 

This  arrangement  is,  I  conceive,  the  one  originally  in- 
tended by  the  Revd.  J.  J.  Therry.  It  meets  my  approbation, 
and  should  obviate  all  difficulties  respecting  notes. 

Wm.  Ullathorne,  V.G. 

April  25th,  1834. 

By  this  agreement  a  complete  understanding  on  financial 
responsibilities  was  arrived  at.  But  the  chief  cause  for  com- 
plaint was  still  unremedied.  Father  Therry  was  continuing  his 
arduous  labours  throughout  the  whole  colony.  He  recognized 
no  parochial  boundaries.  He  had  been  used  to  an  undisputed 
right  of  entry  into  every  district,  and  could  not  realize  that 
the  old  order  had  changed — that  in  the  new  there  were  three 
other  priests  with  equal  rights.  Nor  did  the  people  see  any 
harm  in  his  methods.  If  there  was  a  baby  to  baptize,  whether 
in  Parramatta,  Campbelltown,  or  Sydney,  there  was  a  belief, 
almost  bordering  on  superstition,  that  the  full  efficacy  of  the 
sacrament  depended  on  the  ministrations  of  this  priest  in  par- 
ticular. It  was  the  guarantee  of  good  luck.  The  parties  to  a 
marriage  required  the  services  of  the  priest  who  had  baptized 
or  instructed  them,  or  had  given  them  their  first  Holy  Com- 
munion. This  popular  canonization  never  waned.  Twenty 
years  later  the  most  common  form  of  reference  as  to  charac- 
ter and  worth  was:  'T  was  baptized  by  Father  Therry." 
There  still  live  a  very  few  favoured  people  whose  proudest 
boast  is  that  they  knew  and  were  blessed  by  Father  Therry. 
Father  Ullathorne,  too,  uncomfortably  aware  of  this  wide- 
spread influence,  tells  us  how  he  had  taken  steps  to  complete 
the  church  at  Maitland,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Govern- 
ment Architect,  but  on  his  next  visit  found  that  Father  Therry 
had  been  there  before  him,  and  had  doubled  the  number  of  win- 


176  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

dows.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  confine  the  efforts  of  the 
priest  to  one  particular  locality:  he  could  not  have  obeyed 
such  restrictions.  It  was  a  wiser  policy,  even  though  incon- 
venient, to  allow  him  to  do  as  he  wished,  so  long  as  he  minis- 
tered only  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  people,  and  left  matters 
of  finance  in  more  capable  hands. 

This  arrangement,  awkward  though  it  appear,  was  turned 
by  the  master  mind  of  Father  Ullathorne  into  the  means  of 
doing  great  service  to  the  Church.  In  theory  the  plan  adopted 
seemed  impossible.  In  practice,  the  labours  of  the  four  priests 
extended  so  widely  into  the  country  districts,  and  so  effectively 
into  the  town  districts,  that  the  need  became  pressing  not 
only  for  more  priests,  but  for  a  Bishop. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

That  wee  bit  heap  o'  leaves  an'  stibble 
Has  cost  thee  mony  a  weary  nibble ! 
Now  thou's  turned  out,  for  a'  thy  trouble, 
But  house  or  hald, 
To  thole  the  winter's   sleety  dribble 
An'   cranreuch  cauld! 

— Burns. 

Up  to  the  end  of  Chapter  X  the  history  of  Father  Therry's 
life  has  been  synonymous  with  the  history  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  Australia.  But  after  the  arrival  of  Father  Ulla- 
thorne  he  was  no  longer  in  authority;  no  longer  the  only 
priest  in  New  South  Wales,  but  one  of  several,  owing  obe- 
dience to  a  duly  appointed  superior.  With  the  arrival  of  Dr. 
Polding  the  change  in  his  position  became  more  marked,  though 
his  influence  on  public  opinion  waned  but  little.  The  one-time 
priest  of  the  parish  of  New  South  Wales  was  made  parish 
priest  of  a  little  country  district. 

The  narrative  of  his  life  from  this  date  will  be  concerned 
mainly  with  his  personal  doings.  Occasionally  these  took  on  a 
wider  significance,  as  the  struggles  of  the  past  bore  fruit.  The 
hand  that  guided  the  earliest  steps  of  the  church  in  the  colony 
was  seen  still  working  when  a  stranger  to  these  struggles 
exultingly  recounted  the  successes  of  later  years.  The  Church 
Act  was  an  example,  the  completion  of  St.  Mary's  another; 
and  the  church  of  to-day  bears  in  every  aspect  the  imprint 
of  its  founder.  The  progressive  state  of  the  Catholic  Church 
in  1835,  rendering  the  presence  of  a  Bishop  necessary  as 
well  as  convenient,  is  the  greatest  and  earliest  mark  of  Father 
Therry's  success. 

John  Bede  Polding  was  a  Benedictine  monk  of  Downside 
Abbey  in  England.  His  early  life  was  interesting,  but  must  be 
studied  elsewhere.  He  was  a  man  well  qualified  by  learning, 
piety,  and  the  power  of  attracting  men,  to  be  the  first  Bishop 
of  the  young  colony.  He  never  made  enemies ;  he  was  always 
kind;  yet  he  could  be  severe  with  the  severity  of  a  medieval 


177 


178  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

monk.  An  instance  of  this  will  be  given  in  this  chapter.  From 
his  first  days  in  Australia  he  won  the  heart  and  affections  of 
Father  Therry.  He  set  himself  to  understand  the  virtues  as 
well  as  the  failings,  and  to  overlook  the  eccentricities,  of  this 
priest,  so  often  and  for  so  long  a  time  misunderstood.  Later 
years  tested  this  sympathy;  the  time  came  when  Dr.  Polding 
had  to  forfeit  the  friendship  of  a  brother  Bishop — Dr.  Will- 
son — in  order  to  support  Father  Therry;  but  the  tie  between 
Bishop  and  priest  was  never  broken. 

In  May,  1834,1  Dr.  Polding  was  appointed  to  the  charge 
of  New  Holland  and  Van  Diemen's  Land  and  was  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Hiero-Caesarea  i.p.i.  on  the  feast  of  Sts.  Peter  and 
Paul  in  the  following  month.  With  three  priests  and  several 
ecclesiastical  students  he  set  sail  immediately  for  his  new  dio- 
cese. His  first  introduction  to  it  was  disheartening,  for  at 
Hobart  he  found  the  Church  in  an  unsatisfactory  state,  and 
Father  Conolly  an  unsatisfactory  missionary.  Sydney  he 
reached  on  Sunday  the  13th  of  September,  1835.  At  his  in- 
stallation, on  the  following  Sunday,  the  clergy  of  the  diocese 
knelt  one  by  one  at  his  feet  to  make  their  submissions  and 
obediences.  There  was  one  absent.  It  was  Father  Therry. 
In  his  address  Dr.  Polding  gave  a  hint  how  he  would  in 
future  deal  with  Father  Therry.  He  had  no  words  of  blame. 
"He  spoke  of  the  excellent  qualities  of  Father  Therry,  the 
pastor  to  whose  zeal  they  were  indebted  for  the  noble  struc- 
ture in  which  they  were  assembled,  and  whose  absence  on  this 
occasion  seemed  to  be  so  much  felt  by  the  congregation."2 

Father  Therry  was  not  present  at  the  installation  because, 
in  obedience  to  his  Lordship's  commands,  he  had  already 
taken  up  other  work  appointed  for  him ;  on  the  day  of  the 
installation  he  commenced  a  new  period  of  his  eventful  life 
as  parish  priest  of  Campbelltown.  The  people  were  up  m 
arms  immediately3;  but  the  opposition  soon  died  down,  and 

JThe  decision  was  made  at  Rome  in  May;  the  news  reached  Eng- 
land in  June. 
2  Kenny,  p.  171. 
8  See  Appendix  A,  No.  27. 


THE     MOST     REVEREND    JOHN     BEDE     POLDINO,    D.D,     O.S.B.,     FIRST 
ARCHBISHOP    OF    SYDNEY 

(From  an   engraving,   the  property   of  Mr.   Thomas  Shine) 

To  face  p.    178 


CAMPBELLTOWN    PARISH  179 

the  newspapers,  ever  eager  for  an  interesting  discussion  on  a 
local  topic,  dropped  the  subject  when  it  was  seen  that  Father 
Therry  made  no  protest  against  his  appointment. 

The  parish  of  Campbelltown  was,  indeed,  no  unworthy 
charge.  The  town  itself  contained  287  Catholics,  and  the  other 
parts  of  the  parish  (Appin,  Menangle,  Narellan  and  Cooke) 
810.  The  parish  priest  had  charge  also  of  Illawarra  and  Ar- 
gyle — i.e.,  an  area  extending  to  and  beyond  Yass. 

Soon,  however,  the  appointment  was  regarded  more  favour- 
ably. Many  wished  to  see  Father  Therry  honourably  relieved 
of  the  financial  burdens  of  the  Cathedral  parish,  which  he 
was  not  fitted  to  bear.  The  sympathy  of  the  Bishop  for  him 
became  known,  and  people  began  to  feel  that  his  welfare  was 
in  safe  and  unselfish  hands. 

Dr.  Polding  was  not  satisfied  with  endorsing  petitions  to 
Government  for  the  reinstatement  of  Father  Therry  as  Gov- 
ernment Chaplain,  and  for  the  restoration  of  his  salary.  He 
quickly  recognized  the  extent  of  the  injustice,  and  deter- 
mined, until  the  Government  should  make  provision,  to  pro- 
vide compensation  from  his  own  slender  means.  At  his  first 
Conference  with  the  clergy  the  following  enactment  was 
made,  and  duly  signed  by  the  Bishop4 : — 

Collatio  prima  habita,  Die  15a  Octobri,  1835 — in  aedibus 
Episcopi  prope  ecclesiam  Episcopalem  de  Sancta  Maria 
Virgine.  Ad  majorem  Dei  gloriam  et  honorem  Deiparae 
Virginis,  a  Reversso  et  Illustrsso  Episcopo  propositum  fuit  et 
a  Reverendo  Clero  unanimiter  approbatum ;  quod  quolibet 
anno  Collaborator!  in  laboribus  Missionis  Apostolico  Revdo 
Dno  Joanni  Josepho  Therry  summa  pecuniae  daretur  aequi- 
valens  pensioni  a  Gubernio  sacerdotibus  nostris  concessae. 

1  (Translation.)  "At  the  first  conference  held  on  the  15th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1835,  at  the  Bishop's  house,  adjoining  the  Cathedral  Church  of 
St.  Mary,  for  the  greater  glory  of  God  and  the  honor  of  the  Virgin 
Mother  of  God,  the  proposal  was  made  by  the  Bishop  and  unani- 
mously approved  by  the  clergy,  that  every  year  there  should  be  granted 
to  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  our  fellow-missioner,  a  salary  equivalent  to  that 
granted  by  Government  to  the  other  Chaplains.  Sanctioned  and  en- 
trusted for  execution  to  the  Vicar-General :  John  Bede,  Bishop  of 
Hiero-Caesarea,  and  Vicar  Apostolic  in  New  Holland." 


l.-, 


180  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Sancitum  et  ad  exequendum  Vicario  Generali  districtus 
nostri  committitur. 

^Joannes  Beda,  Epis.  Hiero-Caesaren. 

et  in  Nova  Hollandia  Vic.  Aptus. 
Datum,  Sydney, 

Die  i6a  Octobris,  18350. 

De  mandato  Illustriss*  Revdssi  Episcopi 
J.  McEncroe,  Secretarius. 

The  Vicar  General  notified  Father  Therry  of  the  grant  in 
the  following  letter5: — 

Revd.  Dr.  Sir, 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  transmitting  to  you  the 
inclosed  fifty  pounds,  £50,  as  the  first  instalment  of  the  hun- 
dred and  fifty  per  annum  assigned  to  you  by  our  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  at  his  first  clerical  conference,  in  lieu  of  the  salary 
of  which  you  were,  under  a  former  Government,  to  the  surprise 
of  every  considering  mind  deprived. 
I  remain, 

Rev.  Dr.  Sir, 
Yours  very  truly  afrX, 

Wm.  Ullathorne. 

This  action  made  a  deep  impression  on  Father  Therry, 
who,  ever  ready  to  fight  to  the  last  anyone  who  opposed  or 
suspected  him,  was  completely  disarmed  at  the  smallest  signs 
of  appreciation  and  sympathy.  He  recorded  the  occasion  in 
his  diary,  and  in  the  same  week  added  another  testimony  to 
the  good-will  of  his  Bishop:  "Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Polding  promised 
that,  as  long  as  he  should  have  jurisdiction  over  the  colony, 
the  Most  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  should  be  offered  for  me 
once  a  week  in  St.  Mary's  Church." 

The  time  had  at  last  arrived  when  the  recommendations 
sent  to  England  by  Governor  Bourke  in  1833  were  to  be  put 
into  execution.  On  30  November,  1835,  Viscount  Glenelg 
(Colonial  Secretary  in  the  Melbourne  ministry)  expressed  to 
Governor  Bourke6  the  pleasure  of  the  Home  Government 
at   receiving  the   Governor's    full   account   of    religious    dis- 

5  From  the  Manly  Archives. 
'  Kenny,  p.  65. 


/to^    ^£    t^Xt*-*-*- /iffy 

LETTER  FROM  FATHER  ULLATHORNE 
16a 


</%  /.   A6AA. 


THE    CHURCH    ACT  181 

abilities  in  the  Colony.  "I  am  disposed,"  he  wrote,  "to  com- 
mit to  the  Governor  and  the  Legislative  Council  the  task  of 
suggesting  and  enacting  such  laws  for  the  distribution  and 
appropriation  of  the  funds  applicable  to  the  general  purposes 
of  religion  and  education,  as  they  consider  best  adapted  to 
the  exigencies  of  the  Colony.  .  .  .  The  attempt  to  select  any 
one  church  as  the  exclusive  object  of  public  endowment  .... 
would  not  long  be  tolerated.  To  none  of  the  numerous  Christ- 
ians of  those  persuasions  should  opportunities  be  refused  for 
worship  and  education  on  principles  which  they  approve.  The 
plan  which  you  have  suggested  appears  to  me  fully  in  ac- 
cordance with  these  views  in  both  its  branches" — i.e.,  re- 
ligious worship  and  public  education. 

This  gave  Governor  Bourke  a  free  hand,  and  the  resulting 
"Church  Act"  (of  29  July,  1836)  embodied  all  suggestions 
made  in  the  Governor's  letter  of  1833.  By  it  all  religions  were 
placed  on  an  equal  footing;  residences  and  chapels  for  the 
clergy  were  to  be  erected  with  Government  help.  A  scale  of 
remuneration  was  settled — £100  per  annum  in  a  parish  of 
100;  £150  if  200,  and  £200  if  500  people.  Regarding  the 
schools,  the  Irish  system  of  education  was  proposed.  Hitherto, 
the  thirty-five  schools  of  the  Colony  had  been  strictly  Church 
of  England,  and  the  teaching  of  the  doctrines  of  that  Church 
had  been  part  of  the  syllabus.  The  new  system  was  strongly 
(and  in  part  successfully)  opposed  by  Bishop  Broughton  and 
the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England ;  but  the  principle  of  re- 
ligious equality  had  been  definitely  proclaimed,  and  the  in- 
tolerance of  earlier  years  passed  away. 

The  friends  of  Father  Therry,  anxious  to  grasp  at  every 
opportunity  that  seemed  favourable,  sought  for  his  reinstate- 
ment as  the  first  fruits  of  the  new  Act.  As  parish  priest  of 
Campbelltown,  with  a  liberal  salary  from  the  Bishop,  he  was 
in  more  comfortable  circumstances  than  he  had  enjoyed  for 
many  years,  but  he  realized  how  severe  a  strain  was  thus 
placed  on  the  Bishop's  slender  finances.  He  was  doing  the 
work  of  a  chaplain ;  why  should  not  Government  recompense 
him?    The  services  he  rendered  were,  moreover,  dependent 


182  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

on  the  good-will  of  a  benign  governor.  If  he  united  parties 
in  marriage  the  contract  was  legally  valid  only  because  the 
Government  overlooked  what  was  really  a  usurpation  of 
power.  Later  authorities  might  not  be  so  lenient.  To  remedy 
this  unsatisfactory  position,  petitions  were  drafted  and  pre- 
sented once  again. 

Father  Therry's  sister  had  written  from  Ireland  describ- 
ing the  influence  of  the  two  O'Connells  in  matters  of  Catholic 
interest.  She  suggested  that  Father  Therry  should  place  the 
grievance  in  their  hands.  This  was  done  in  a  long  petition 
signed  by  representative  men  in  Sydney,  who  engaged  the 
services  of  Roger  Therry.  Coming  to  the  Government  with 
such  frequency,  and  supported  by  the  good-will  of  the  Bishop, 
these  petitions  at  last  produced  the  effect  required.  In  a  letter 
to  the  Bishop's  secretary,  dated  20  August,  1836,  the  reason 
for  hesitation  is  given;  the  Home  authorities,  afraid  of 
Father  Therry's  activities,  had  withheld  reinstatement  until 
a  recognized  and  superior  authority  should  take  on  his  own 
shoulders  the  responsibility  for  the  dangerous  priest : — 

Reverend  Sir, 

With  reference  to  the  subject  of  a  recent  inter- 
view of  Dr.  Polding  with  the  Governor,  I  am  directed  to 
acquaint  you  that  in  a  despatch  from  the  Secretary  of  State, 
dated  December,  1834,  His  Lordship  adverts  to  the  then  ap- 
proaching appointment  of  a  Catholic  Bishop  invested  with 
Episcopal  authority,  and  states  that  it  is  not  his  intention  to 
come  to  any  final  decision  in  respect  to  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry's 
readmission  as  one  of  the  established  body  of  Catholic  Chap- 
lains, until  after  the  arrival  in  the  Colony  of  his  ecclesiastical 
Superior;  and  until  a  report  shall  have  been  received  from 
him,  not  only  on  the  state  of  the  Clergy  generally,  and  on  the 
character  of  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry  in  particular,  but  as  to  the 
sufficiency  of  the  authority  possessed  by  the  Bishop  over  him 
to  prevent  him  from  giving  any  further  trouble,  if  so  disposed, 
to  the  Colonial  Government. 

This  will  show  that  it  will  be  expedient  to  make  the  report 
required,  as  soon  as  possible.  In  the  meantime  His  Excellency 
will  not  object,  on  the  Bishop's  favorable  representation  of 
Mr.  Therry's  character  and  usefulness,  to  allow  him  to  receive 


BISHOP    FOLDING'S    REBUKE  183 

salary  from  the  first  of  next  month,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  Secretary  of  State,  to  whom  the  report  of  application 
of  the  Bishop,  founded  thereon  will  be  forwarded.  Its  proper 
form  will  be  that  of  a  letter  to  the  Colonial  Secretary. 

I  remain,  &c, 
G.  K.  Holden. 

Father  Therry  did  not  know  that  official  opinion  was  be- 
coming favourable,  and  that  his  repeated  petitions  were  on 
the  point  of  being  successful.  He  continued  to  fight  his  own 
battle,  and  very  nearly  thwarted  the  success  of  the  Bishop's 
efforts.  Dr.  Polding,  to  be  his  true  friend  at  this  time  of  need, 
must  be  severe.  With  characteristic  diplomacy  he  acknow- 
ledged the  value  of  Father  Therry's  counsel  in  all  matters,  but 
insisted  that  in  future  all  communications  to  Government 
must  pass  through  his  hands : — 

Sydney,  August  21st,  1836. 
Dear  and  Reverend  Sir, 

I  submit  for  your  perusal  the  copy  of  a  letter 
from  the  Private  Secretary,  which  you  will  perceive  refers  to 
an  application  made  by  me  to  His  Excellency  to  have  your 
name  re-entered  on  the  list  of  Catholic  chaplains.  In  my  reply, 
I  gave  that  opinion  of  your  merits,  I  deemed  most  just  to  give, 
and  assured  His  Excellency  I  had  no  doubt  you  would  evince 
yourself  amenable  to  my  authority.  Since  I  wrote,  the  Governor 
has  forwarded  to  me  a  letter  written  by  you  relative  to  a  grant 
of  land  in  way  of  compensation,  which  letter,  I  grieve  to  say, 
is  an  obstacle  to  the  negotiation  I  trusted  ere  this  to  have  seen 
accomplished  by  the  notification  of  the  happy  result  of  my 
application.  I  think  it  would  be  advisable  to  request  permission 
to  withdraw  that  letter,  and  to  favor  me  with  a  statement  of 
your  dispositions  so  expressed  as  to  meet  the  apprehensions 
signified  in  the  despatch  from  the  Home  Government.  I  need 
not  add  that  I  shall  be  always  happy  to  have  the  benefit  of 
your  suggestions  and  counsel,  but  all  arrangements  with  the 
government  of  a  public  character  must  pass  through  my  hands. 

The  news  contained  in  the  Bishop's  letter  was  a  complete 
surprise  to  Father  Therry.  He  had  been  ignorant  of  any  such 
negotiations  on  his  behalf.  The  cause  of  the  Government's 
suspicions,  he  replied,  arose  from  his  refusal  to  place  an 
earthly  authority  above  the  authority  of  his  conscience  and 


184  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

the  laws  of  God ;  but  "If  in  that  letter  there  be  a  single  ex- 
pression calculated  in  any  way  to  give  offence  or  furnish 
reasonable  cause  for  displeasure,  a  circumstance  which  I  had 
not  even  the  remotest  reason  to  apprehend,  I  shall  feel  happy 
in  being  permitted  instantly  to  withdraw  it."  He  wrote  to  the 
Governor  as  he  had  promised,  and  was  provisionally  reinstated 
at  a  salary  of  £150  per  annum;  but  the  official  appointment 
was  not  made  till  13  April,  1837. 

In  May,  1837,  he  received  news  of  his  mother's  death. 
His  affection  for  home  is  not  manifested  by  many  letters;  he 
wrote  but  seldom.  But  to  the  day  of  his  death  the  name  of  his 
mother  is  mentioned  among  those  for  whom  he  offered  up 
daily  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass.7 

And  now  the  abundant  energy  of  the  reinstated  Chaplain, 
satisfied  at  last  with  the  fulfilment  of  his  most  cherished  de- 
sires, was  content  to  expend  itself  upon  the  needs  of  his 
country  parish.  He  had  not  come  to  Campbelltown  as  a 
stranger;  from  the  foundation  of  the  township  "the  priest  in 
his  gig"  had  been  well  known.  Many  of  the  people  amongst 
whom  he  came  had  known  no  other  priest  in  Australia.  In 
the  early  days  of  the  colony  he  had  ministered  to  their  wants, 
and  said  his  Sunday  Mass,  usually  his  second,  under  the 
great  tree  of  the  square.  Many  anecdotes  of  these  early  days 
are  remembered  by  the  sons  of  those  who  assisted  at  the 
open-air  Mass.  On  one  occasion  Father  Therry  was  prevented 
from  officiating  by  torrential  rain.  Near  at  hand  was  the 
Anglican  Church,  still  in  building.  He  led  his  parishioners  to 
this  welcome  shelter,  and  there  offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice. 
When  the  Anglican  clergyman  heard  of  what  he  termed  a 
"desecration,"  he  demanded  an  explanation.  Father  Therry 
gave  it  in  characteristic  language  :s  "I  have  the  same  respect 
for  you  that  I  had  prior  to  receiving  your  letter;  your  being 
a  magistrate  has  no  terrors  for  me.  It  is  not  unusual  for  your 
Church  and  mine  to  hold  divine  service  in  the  same  building, 

7  See  Appendix  A,  No.  29. 

"Reddall  Papers,  in  the  Mitchell  Library.     Mr.   Reddall  at  a  later 
date  sent  a  subscription  towards  the  cost  of  Father  Therry's  Church. 


THE  CAMPBELLTOWN    CHURCH  185 

though  not  at  the  same  time ;  my  Church  is  far  more  restricted 
in  discipline  than  yours ;  yet  it  permits  such  usage.  I  took  the 
liberty  in  question,  anticipating  your  consent  .  .  ."  The  in- 
dignation of  the  clergyman  was  uncalled  for,  in  Father 
Therry's  estimation;  the  Revd.  Mr.  Reddall  should  have  felt 
honoured  rather  than  chagrined. 

Campbelltown  was  a  busy  centre.  It  possessed  a  large  gaol 
and  a  court-house — which  latter  building,  until  the  chapel  was 
built,  served  for  public  worship  on  Sundays.  There  was  also  a 
large  Government  asylum  at  Liverpool,  where  a  priest  was  fre- 
quently required  to  minister  to  the  sick  and  dying.  During 
Father  Therry's  charge  of  the  district  he  attended  this  institu- 
tion several  times  every  week,  bringing  consolation  to  the  sick 
and  burying  the  dead. 

The  foundations  of  the  church  at  Campbelltown  had  been 
laid  on  December  12,  1824,  long  before  Father  Therry's  ap- 
pointment to  the  parish,  but  further  operations  had  been  de- 
layed. The  energetic  priest  threw  himself  into  the  task  of 
completing  it  with  results  that  much  disquieted  Father  Ulla- 
thorne : — 

This  was  one  of  his  singularities,  to  put  as  many  windows 
in  a  building  as  the  walls  would  allow  of,  without  any  con- 
sideration  for  the  intense  glare  of  heated  light At 

Campbell  Town  his  church  was  like  a  cage His  taste 

in  architecture  was  for  what  he  called  opes;  if  a  plan  was 
brought  to  him,  his  first  question  was  "How  many  more  opes 
would  it  admit  of?"  He  could  not  understand  the  principle 
of  adapting  the  light  of  a  building  to  the  climate.9 

Father  Therry's  plan  for  Campbelltown  church  was  certainly 
a  departure  from  the  conventional  style  of  those  days.  But 
we  cannot  help  thinking  that  it  was  Father  Ullathorne,  not 
the  innovating  priest,  who  misunderstood  the  needs  of  the 
climate.  A  plentiful  supply  of  light  and  air  is  far  more  suitable 
to  colonial  conditions  than  the  subdued  illumination  and  some- 
times stuffy  interiors  of  many  English  churches ;  and  the  old 
Campbelltown  church  may  be  regarded  as  the  first  example  of 

*  Autobiograpliy,  p.  in. 


186  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

a  style  now  very  common  in  Australia.  On  a  hill  overlooking 
much  of  his  vast  parish  Father  Therry  placed  a  structure  as 
solid  to-day  as  it  was  when  he  built  it ;  and,  though  as  a  church 
it  has  been  supplanted  by  a  later  building  on  a  more  conven- 
ient site,  it  still  serves  (with  a  remodelled  interior)  as  a  con- 
vent and  boarding  school. 

In  1833  tne  building  had  so  far  progressed  that  John 
Tasker  and  George  Fieldhouse  were  enabled  to  submit  their 
tender  for  shingling  the  chapel  roof  at  the  rate  of  thirteen 
shillings  and  sixpence  per  square  of  a  hundred  feet.  In  April, 
1834,  David  Lee  and  Patrick  Bleaney  agreed  to  complete  the 
floor,  doors  and  sashes,  and  glaze  the  windows  for  £388  ster- 
ling. On  July  27,  1834,  according  to  an  entry  in  Father 
Therry's  diary,10  the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  first  offered  in  the 
new  chapel ;  but  the  solemn  opening  did  not  take  place  till  seven 
years  later.  The  sons  of  the  early  settlers  in  Campbelltown 
describe  the  love  of  the  people  for  their  priest  and  chapel.  On 
Sundays  they  would  congregate  under  the  trees  of  the  chapel 
grounds,  talking  of  the  good  or  bad  seasons,  gazing  as  they 
talked  over  the  miles  of  country  around  them.  Then  the 
familiar  figure  of  the  priest  in  his  gig  would  appear  from  be- 
hind the  hills,  on  his  return  from  Appin  or  Camden.  It  was 
the  signal  for  preparing  the  vestments  and  lighting  the 
candles  for  Mass. 

Father  Therry's  work  at  Campbelltown  was  more  than  the 
mere  carrying  out  of  priestly  duties.  In  his  diaries  ordinary 
duties,  such  as  the  saying  of  the  parochial  Masses,  attendance 
on  the  sick  and  collecting  funds,  are  mixed  up  with  records  of 
wider  endeavours: — 

Campbelltown  17th  March,  1833.  Arrived  from  Liverpool. 
Mass  in  Court-House  for  the  people.  Exhortation  on  the  Gos- 
pel of  the  day,  and  a  Panegyric  on  St.  Patrick.  Took  Holy 
Communion  to  Pat.  Prendergast — his  birthday.  Endeavoured 
to  prevent  a  prize-fight  between  two  Australian  youths. 

:8th.  Attended  a  meeting  intended  to  provide  a  reservoir 
for  Campbelltown.    Proposed  the   formation  of  a  Josephian 

10  Manly  Archives. 


CHURCH    ADMINISTRATION  187 

Confraternity  of  Australian  native  youths  exclusively,  for  the 
purpose  of  discountenancing  vice  and  promoting  the  practice 
of  virtue  amongst  the  rising  generation 

His  long  experience  in  the  country  had  shown  him  the 
necessity  for  a  Catholic  paper  to  counteract  the  slanderous 
statements  of  an  antagonistic  press.  In  a  will  made  at  Camp- 
belltown,  before  setting  out  on  a  long  journey,  he  provided 
sufficient  funds  to  set  up  a  defensive  press.  The  idea  was 
still  in  his  mind  when  a  letter  from  Dr.  Polding  told  him  that 
the  Australian  newspaper  was  likely  to  sell  out  for  £1,400. 
The  Bishop  had  eight  shares  of  £100  each  in  hand,  and  asked 
Father  Therry  for  help  towards  obtaining  the  remaining 
shares. 

In  disputes  between  his  parishioners  his  decision  was  pre- 
ferred to  that  of  a  court.  In  March,  1838,  Duncan  Cameron 
and  P.  Kenny  had  serious  disputes  over  a  hay  transaction. 
They  had  their  cases  drawn  up  by  a  solicitor  and  submitted 
to  Father  Therry,  asking  him  to  make  his  award  within  one 
month,  "the  same  being  understood  to  have  the  same  binding 
force  as  a  decree  of  the  Supreme  Court." 

Once  at  least  the  affairs  of  the  parish  involved  graver  dif- 
ficulties, some  account  of  which  may  be  appropriate  here  for 
the  light  it  throws  on  Church  administration  in  the  early 
years,  as  well  as  on  the  character — lenient  to  the  ignorant  and 
forgetful,  but  strict  to  the  limits  of  severity  when  deliberate 
sin  was  in  question — of  Dr.  Polding  himself.  A  digression 
which  does  not  concern  Father  Therry  personally  may  there- 
fore be  pardoned. 

The  conduct  of  a  certain  member  of  the  Campbelltown  con- 
gregation had  given  rise  to  great  scandal.  The  jurisdiction  of 
the  Church  over  the  souls  of  her  people  is  as  complete  and  as 
justifiable  as  that  of  the  State  over  the  acts  of  its  citizens 
outside  the  spiritual  sphere ;  but  it  is  not  often  that  she  asserts 
her  jurisdiction  publicly  for  punitive  purposes;  and  such  an 
assertion  is  intended — as  in  this  particular  case — to  avert  the 
effects  of  scandal  from  the  community  as  well  as  to  bring 


188  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

back  to  it  the  disobedient  subject.  On  16  November,  1837,  Dr. 
Polding  wrote  to  Father  Therry: — 

Dear  and  Reverend  Sir, 

I  send  you  a  monition  on  the  subject  of  the  un- 
fortunate Mr ,  which  you  will  have  the  kindness  to  com- 
municate to  the  faithful  on  Sunday  next,  if  this  letter  reaches 

you  in  time.    The  testimony  of  Mrs has  in  considerable 

degree  removed  the  impressions  I  entertained  respecting  the 
marriage  of  ....  to  a  former  wife.  This  person  whom  you 
recollect,  had  enough  opportunity  of  knowing  the  fact,  had 
such  been  the  case. 

It  might  be  well  to  take  occasion  from  the  injunction  of 
Penance  on ,  to  explain  to  the  people  the  nature  and  ex- 
tent of  the  ancient  Penitential  Canon,  and  particularly,  to 
direct  their  attention  to  the  prohibition  enjoining  abstinence 
from  the  Holy  Communion. 

The  Pastoral  Letter  was  as  follows: — 

John  Bede  by  Divine  Providence  and  the  favor  of  the  Holy 
Apostolic  See,  Bishop  of  Hiero-Caesarea,  Vicar  Apostolic  of 
New  Holland  and  Van  Diemen's  Land,  to  the  faithful  of  St. 
John's  Church  Campbelltown,  Greeting. 

Of  the  Saviour  of  the  world  it  was  foretold  that  He  came 
to  throw  down  and  to  build  up,  to  plant  and  to  destroy.  In 
virtue  of  our  Apostolic  Ministry  the  same  duties  are  incum- 
bent upon  us.  To  sow  the  seeds  of  heavenly  doctrine  in  the 
hearts  of  our  people,  to  cherish  the  growth  of  all  that  is  good, 
that  abundant  fruit  may  be  produced,  must  be  the  object  of 
our  constant  solicitude. 

We  must  labour  with  equal  zeal  to  root  up  those  scandals, 
which  otherwise  would  spread  over  and  disfigure  the  Vineyard 
of  the  Lord.  From  our  beloved  Brother  in  Christ,  your  re- 
spected Pastor,  we  have  heard  with  grief  not  to  be  expressed, 
that  scandal  has  arisen  amongst  you,  the  like  of  which  is  not 
to  be  found  amongst  the  Heathen,  and  we  were  prepared  ac- 
cording to  Our  Lord's  injunction  to  remove  the  diseased  one, 
lest  by  our  neglect  the  flock  committed  to  our  care,  might 
receive  detriment. 

We  determined  in  the  name  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and 
with  the  power  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  deliver  the  guilty  one  to 
Satan  for  the  destruction  of  the  flesh  that  the  spirit  might  be 

saved,  to  dissever from  the  living  Body  of  Christ,  His 

Holy  Church,  by  the    spiritual    sword  of  excommunication. 


■4^m 

?ml       Jilt, " '                        iii-, ;  '■  ^zzs^jaBaBil 

r 

=# 

m   *  *  «'y% 

■r 

%l  %\1 

Mw  '-%i"5 

«%   *-*v<  jar*- 

9B>    •; 

A    SINCERE    REPENTANCE  189 

With  much  affliction  and  anguish  of  heart  did  we  feel  our- 
selves impelled  to  this  painful  exercise  of  our  Ministry.  Judge 
then  with  what  consolation  we  overflowed  when  we  beheld 
in  the  repentance  of  that  offending  Brother  just  cause  of 
remission. 

Sorrowing  for  his  iniquity  and  overwhelmed  with  shame, 
he  is  disposed  to  fulfil  whatever  penitential  duties  we  may  en- 
join, so  that  he  may  escape  that  dreadful  sentence  of  excom- 
munication, which  he  acknowledges,  he  has  most  justly  in- 
curred. 

Seeing  therefore  it  becomes  man  to  have  pity  on  his  own 
flesh,  and  that  for  our  instruction  it  is  written  Mercy  I  will, 
and  not  sacrifice  and  moreover,  it  is  the  conversion  of  the  Sin- 
ner and  not  his  death  the  Lord  seeketh,  we  will  not  reject 
his  humble  supplication.  Nevertheless,  because  he  caused  the 
enemies  of  the  Church  to  rejoice  in  his  disgrace,  and  to  repair 

the  scandal  he  has  given,  We  enjoin  the  said   to  ask 

public  pardon  and  to  express  his  sorrow  either  in  person,  or  by 
letter,  to  be  read  from  the  Altar;  and  in  atonement  for  that 
scandal  we  furthermore  enjoin  the  said to  go  to  Con- 
fession once  in  each  month,  or  so  often  as  his  director  may 
require  for  the  space  of  five  years,  to  fast  each  Friday  and  to 
abstain  from  meat  each  Wednesday  and  Friday  during  one 
year,  on  which  days  he  will  also  read  the  seven  Penitential 
Psalms,  and  we  do  not  permit  him  to  approach  the  most  Holy 
Communion  till  the  period  of  his  penance  shall  be  accom- 
plished. We  direct  this  our  Pastoral  Monition  to  be  read  on 
Sunday,  November  18th  and  the  following  Sunday. 

The  grace  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  you  all.  Amen. 

The  Apostolic  monition  produced  the  effect  that  was 
desired.  The  straying  sheep  was  brought  back  to  the  fold. 
The  scandal  was  repaired  by  a  humble  retractation: — 

Reverend  Sir. 

Penetrated  with  the  deepest  sorrow,  and  covered 
with  confusion,  I  acknowledge  before  God  and  man  to  have 
most  grievously  sinned,  and  ask  pardon  for  the  same.  My  sin 
is  always  before  me,  I  deserve  to  be  cast  out  of  the  Church 
of  God  which  I  have  scandalized.  I  am  unworthy  to  be  con- 
tinued in  the  Society  of  the  Faithful.  Under  the  dread  lest 
my  expulsion  from  the  bosom  of  the  Church,  by  depriving  me 
of  the  prayers  and  Sacrifices  with  which  she  unceasingly  sup- 
plicates for  her  unworthy  children  would  deprive  me  of  the 


17 


190  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

chief  ground  of  hope  I  still  entertain  I  most  humbly  and  earn- 
estly implore  that  the  sentence  of  excommunication  may  not  be 
passed  upon  me,  and  I  hereby  offer  unreservedly  and  promise 
to  fulfil  whatever  penitential  exercises  may  be  enjoined  me  by 
my  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God,  my  Bishop,  and  to  do 
whatever  may  be  enjoined  to  atone  for  my  sins,  and  to  repair 
the  scandal  I  have  given. 

Father  Therry's  parochial  charge  of  Campbelltown  was 
undoubtedly  successful.  The  church  was  built.  The  faith  of 
the  people  of  the  parish  was  stirred  and  enlivened  into 
a  proud  profession  of  their  religion.  The  outer  districts — 
Camden,  Menangle,  Appin,  Liverpool,  the  county  of  Argyle 
and  much  of  the  Illawarra — were  given  all  the  attention 
that  he  could  spare.  At  Appin  he  decided  to  build  a  church. 
In  1837  he  had  more  than  £150  in  donations  towards  the  cost 
of  the  building;  and  on  4  February  of  the  same  year  James 
Cotter  signed  an  agreement  to  carry  out  the  work  "at  the  rate 
of  five  shillings  per  perch,  that  is  one  shilling  and  sixpence 
for  quarrying,  and  three  shillings  and  sixpence  for  laying  the 
stone."  The  building  was  referred  to  by  Dr.  Polding  in  a  let- 
ter dated  November  16,  1837: — 

I  have  not  received  the  particulars  respecting  the  Church 
to  be  erected  at  Appin,  or  the  list  of  Subscribers,  or  the  names 
of  Trustees  recommended  by  you  to  me,  which  would  enable 
me  to  make  application  to  Government.  The  Ground  Plans 
I  was  to  have  to-day.  I  fear  it  will  be  too  late  for  this  day's 
post.  As  soon  as  this  is  forwarded,  the  men  can  commence 
operations,  and  lay  the  foundation,  to  a  certain  extent.  The 
weather  to  the  great  joy  of  the  country  will  continue  I  appre- 
hend unfavorable  to  travelling.  I  think  therefore  considering 
the  circumstances  it  will  be  preferable  to  defer  the  ceremony 
of  laying  the  Foundation  Stone  till  the  Tuesday  in  the  week 
following  the  next.  If  the  arrangement  suit  your  convenience, 
be  so  good  as  to  give  notice  of  this  postponement  to  the  people. 

The  time  was  almost  at  hand  for  Father  Therry's  depar- 
ture. Throughout  his  life,  whenever  the  work  given  him 
began  to  prosper  after  years  of  toil,  another  work  was  found 
that  needed  the  hand  of  the  master  missionary.   Campbelltown 


VISIT   TO    MELBOURNE  191 

was  firmly  established,  and  Father  James  Goold,  his  successor, 
with  the  assistance  of  a  curate,  would  continue  the  work.  But 
the  Port  Phillip  district  and  the  island  of  Tasmania  were  un- 
cultivated.   They  called  for  his  ministrations.11 

Father  Geoghegan  has  been  generally  recognized  as  the 
proto-missionary  of  Port  Phillip;  but  from  letters  written  by 
Dr.  Polding  on  April  19,  1838,  to  residents  of  the  growing 
southern  township,  it  is  certain  that  Father  Therry  was  sent 
to  Port  Phillip,  probably  on  his  way  to  Tasmania,  where  he 
arrived  early  in  the  month  of  May.  To  Dr.  Cupin  at  Mel- 
bourne the  Bishop  writes: — 

My  dear  Sir, 

I  assure  myself  you  will  derive  great  gratifica- 
tion from  the  visit  of  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry — the  bearer  of 
this  note.  He  is  deputed  by  me  to  visit  Port  Phillip  to  ad- 
minister the  consolations  of  religion  to  those  far  distant  por- 
tions of  my  fold.  You  will  derive  pleasure  not  only  from  the 
opportunity  of  attending  the  sacred  ordinances  of  religion, 
but  also  from  forming  an  acquaintance  with  one  who  is  in 
every  respect  worthy  of  your  esteem.  It  would  be  well  to 
ascertain  a  site  for  church,  school  and  burial-grounds.  As 
soon  as  I  possibly  can,  of  course,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to 
place  a  clergyman  permanently  at  Port  Phillip,  and  though 
at  the  present  moment,  I  know  not  whence  he  is  to  come, 
Almighty  God  may  favor  us  beyond  our  expectation. 

The  good-will  of  the  Administrator  of  the  settlement  was 
sought  at  the  same  time.  To  Captain  Lonsdale  the  Bishop 
wrote : — 

Dear  Sir, 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  recalling  myself  to  your  recol- 
lection by  introducing  to  your  kind  offices  the  Rev.  J.  J. 
Therry,  a  clergyman  of  excellent  character,  whom  I  have  de- 
puted to  visit  the  Catholics  of  Melbourne  and  in  the  settlement. 
I  regret  much  the  inadequacy  of  our  numbers  to  the  immense 
spread  of  the  population  will  not  permit  me  to  establish  a 
Catholic  clergyman  permanently  at  Port  Phillip,  and  from  the 
same  cause  the  visits  of  one  must  be  rare 

11  See  Appendix  A,  No.  31. 


192  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

It  is  very  probable  that  at  this  early  date  Father  Therry 
did  minister  to  the  needs  of  the  people  of  Melbourne.  The 
township  lay  on  his  route  to  Launceston,  and  a  visit  would 
entail  but  few  extra  inconveniences.  Many  later  letters  from 
Hobart  to  friends  in  Melbourne,  with  references  to  land 
evidently  owned  by  him  in  that  locality,  strengthen  the  con- 
tention.12 

His  stay  at  Melbourne  was,  however,  brief.  A  month  after 
the  date  of  Dr.  Folding's  introductions  to  Port  Phillip,  he  had 
left  the  mainland,  and  had  entered  upon  harassing  years  of 
labour  and  disappointment  in  Van  Diemen's  Land. 


Cf.  also  Appendix  A,  No.  37. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Thou  has  made  me  endless,  such  is  thy  pleasure. 

— Rabindranath  Tagore 

The  Tasmanian  Mission  to  which  Father  Therry  was  ap- 
pointed was  in  1838  far  from  attractive ;  to  quote  Archbishop 
Polding,  it  presented  "probably  the  slightest  attractions  of  an 
earthly  kind  to  a  clergyman."  Still,  the  task  that  confronted 
Father  Therry  would  have  been  comparatively  easy  had  it 
been  a  matter  of  establishing  the  Church  on  virgin  soil.  It  was 
not.  He  had  first  to  compose  the  dissensions  that  had  arisen 
between  the  Catholic  people  and  their  unfortunate  and  not 
over-zealous  missionary;  then,  having  brought  conditions 
back  to  normal,  to  lay  a  firmer  and  wiser  foundation. 

Father  Conolly  needs  no  introduction  to  the  reader.  His 
arrival  in  Sydney  with  Father  Therry,  and  the  almost  imme- 
diate differences  between  the  two  priests,  necessitating  Father 
Conolly's  departure  for  Van  Diemen's  Land,  have  already 
been  described.  He  reached  his  new  mission  in  1821.  During 
the  years  that  followed  scant  progress  was  made  in  Church 
affairs.  The  difficulties  were  many — the  poverty  and  servile 
state  of  the  Catholics,  most  of  whom  were  convicts,  the  bigotry 
and  open  opposition  of  the  Government,  and  the  need  of  other 
priests  to  help  in  the  work.  Father  Conolly  had  not  the  fight- 
ing faculty  or  the  apostolic  zeal  of  the  missionary  of  the  main- 
land. Dean  Kenny,  who  spent  some  time  in  Tasmania  with 
him,  described  him  as  "a  man  of  no  small  ability  and  attain- 
ments ;  but  he  had  become  rather  antiquated  in  his  manners, 
on  account  of  being  so  long  by  himself.  He  was  a  native  of 
the  north  of  Ireland,  very  witty  and  full  of  dry  humour  and 
caustic  remarks,  and  has  often  shown  great  adroitness  in  his 
correspondence  with  those  in  authority."1 

The  state  of  the  Church  in  Tasmania,  as  Father  Ullathorne 

1  Kenny,  p.  67. 

193 


194  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

saw  it  when  he  first  reached  Australia,  is  vividly  sketched  irt 
his  report  of  1837  to  Propaganda: — 2 

The  Catholics  number  about  6000,  but  the  Catholic  convicts 
are  comparatively  few,  owing  to  the  fact  that  for  the  last 
twelve  years  no  Irish  have  been  sent  here.  The  Governor, 
Colonel  Arthur,  is  a  bigoted  Protestant  doing  all  he  can  to 
oppress  and  stamp  out  Catholicism;  this  was  made  the  easier 
by  the  ill-feeling  existing  between  the  Catholics,  and  their 
only  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Conolly.  He  had  left  New  South 
Wales  in  1821  and  settled  in  Hobart  Town  and  obtained  a 
grant  of  eight  acres  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  and  there 
built  a  poor  wooden  hut  as  a  chapel;  all  granted  by  Govern- 
ment.3 On  my  way  to  New  South  Wales  I  called  at  Hobart 
Town  in  the  beginning  of  1833,  and  found  this  hut  in  a  terrible 
state  of  neglect.  Father  Conolly  was  away  at  Launceston. 
....  As  my  authority  was  limited  to  New  South  Wales,  I 
could  do  nothing  with  respect  to  Van  Diemen's  Land  except 
to  grieve  over  its  hapless  neglected  condition,  and  to  call 
Father  Conolly's  attention  to  it. 

So  exasperated  did  the  Catholics  of  Hobart  become  that  they 
collected  funds  and  handed  them  over  to  the  Governor,  asking 
him  to  get  another  priest  sent  out.  Father  Conolly  retaliated 
by  issuing  a  writ  for  libel  against  one  of  his  parishioners; 
during  the  trouble  that  ensued,  Father  Ullathorne  came  to 
Tasmania  to  restore  amicable  relations.  (In  justice  to  Father 
Conolly  it  must  be  stated  that  Father  Ullathorne  considered 
the  breaches  between  priest  and  people  to  have  been  fomented 
by  Governor  Arthur,  as  a  potent  means  for  destroying  Cath- 
olicism in  the  colony.  It  would  be  unfair  to  condemn  Father 
Conolly  entirely.)  When  in  1835  Dr.  Poking  reached  Tas- 
mania, dissatisfaction  was  still  evident.  Part  of  the  early 
Government  grant  of  land  made  to  Father  Conolly  for  Church 
purposes  was  now  claimed  by  him  as  private  property.  The 
Bishop  refrained  from  personal  interference,  and  appointed 
Father  Cotham   (one  of  the  new  arrivals)  to  assist  Father 

'Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.   88. 

8  Father  Ullathorne's  figures  are  not  quite  correct,  but  his  conclu- 
sions are  not  very  wide  of  the  mark.  Cf.  Father  Kelsh's  Memoir  of 
Bishop  Willson. 


DIFFICULTIES    IN   TASMANIA  195 

Conolly,  hoping  that  this  arrangement  might  rectify  the  dis- 
sensions of  the  past.  He  also  established  a  school,  and  put  it 
in  charge  of  Mr.  (afterwards  Dean)  Kenny,  then  an  ecclesias- 
tical student  and  one  of  his  party.  But  the  Bishop's  mild 
efforts  were  not  successful.  Father  Cotham  on  12  March,  1836, 
complained  of  the  impossibility  of  working  in  conjunction  with 
Father  Conolly : — 

If  there  were  another  priest  in  the  country  so  that  I  could 
remain  here4  for  a  month  or  two  at  a  time,  I  would  begin  to 
build,  and  in  the  meantime  instantly  take  a  house,  in  which 
I  would  say  prayers  every  day  and  give  the  people  an  oppor- 
tunity of  going  to  their  duty;  at  present  this  is  impracticable, 
living  as  I  do  at  an  Hotel,  and  my  stay  being  necessarily  so 
short :  the  people  in  Hobart  Town  will  not  admit  the  services 
of  Mr.  Conolly,  so  that  all  the  duty  of  the  Confessional  there 
devolves  upon  me.  .  .  .  What  with  one  thing  and  another,  our 
religion  degraded  in  every  place,  the  just  complaints  of  the 
Catholics  on  every  side,  without  one  friend  to  assist  or  console 
me,  I  am  nearly  distracted,  nearly  mad.  ...  I  must  candidly 
tell  your  Lordship  that  nothing  on  earth  would  induce  me  to 
remain  here  much  longer,  as  circumstances  are  at  present.  .  .  . 
I  consider  it  my  duty  to  press  once  more  upon  your  Lordship 
the  necessity  of  either  coming  down  yourself  or  sending  Mr. 
Ullathorne  or  Mr.  McEncroe  or  Mr.  Therry  to  take  the  place 
of  Mr.  Conolly.5 

In  such  circumstances  Dr.  Polding  could  not  refuse  to 
act.  He  came  to  Hobart  with  Father  Ullathorne,  who  was  on 
his  way  to  England,  and  there  saw  the  complete  failure  of  all 
his  hopes  for  peace.  The  land  question  was  one  of  the  chief 
troubles.  Father  Conolly,  hearing  of  the  Bishop's  departure 
from  Sydney,  transferred  to  three  dependents  his  claims  to 
the  Church  land.  When  asked  by  the  Bishop  to  explain  his 
conduct,  his  reply  was  so  unsatisfactory  that  suspension  be- 
came inevitable.  He  then  issued  a  writ  against  the  Bishop  for 
defamation  of  character,  and  Dr.  Polding  was  actually  ar- 
rested. This,  however,  aroused  public  opinion;  the  Solicitor- 
General,  who  had  been  retained  against  the  Bishop,  was  com- 

4  At  Launceston. 

6  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.,  102-5. 


196  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

pelled  to  return  his  fees,  to  apologize,  and  to  undertake  the 
Bishop's  defence;  and  Father  Conolly  was  deprived  of  all 
jurisdiction. 

His  successor,  Father  Watkins,  was  not  the  man  to  master 
the  situation.  A  more  experienced  missionary  was  required; 
and  experience  indicated  one  man — him  who  had  founded  the 
Church  on  the  mainland.  Father  Therry's  quiet  retirement 
at  Campbelltown  was  disturbed  by  notice  of  removal  to 
Hobart;  though  it  is  evident  from  his  letter  of  31  March 
(Appendix  A,  No.  31)  that  he  at  first  thought  the  transfer 
a  merely  temporary  one. 

Father  Therry  arrived  at  Launceston  in  April,  1838.  The 
chief  motive  for  the  appointment,  as  well  as  the  popular  in- 
dignation in  Sydney  at  his  removal,  are  indicated  in  a  letter 
to  him  from  Mr.  John  O'Sullivan,  dated  7  May,  1838: — 

I  hope  you  will  succeed  in  the  business  which  you  went  on, 
and  particularly  in  being  the  means  of  reconciling  Dr.  Polding 
and  Mr.  Conolly.  I  have  to  apologize  to  the  Bishop  for  what 
I  wrote  of  him  to  two  or  three  individuals,  when  I  heard  that 
you  were  to  be  removed.  I  did  not  know  where  you  were  to 
go,  or  the  time  that  you  would  be  away.  Your  friends  at  Yass 
were  about  to  have  a  public  meeting,  in  order  to  address  the 
Governor  against  your  being  sent  away;  the  O'Briens  who  I 
believe  are  the  most  public  spirited  members  of  the  Catholic 
Community  were  at  the  head  of  this.  A  letter  of  mine  happened 
to  reach  them  in  which  I  stated  your  removal  would  not  be 
permanent ;  and  the  meeting  did  not  go  on. 

In  another  letter  Mr.  O'Sullivan  writes: — 

The  papers  in  Sydney  say  that  you  are  to  remain  at 
Hobart  Town  "for  ever  and  ever."  I  received  a  long  letter 
from  the  Bishop,  who  writes  as  follows:  "From  Mr.  Therry 
I  regret  to  say  I  have  not  received  a  line.  The  question  of 
the  land  is  not  yet  disposed  of,  and  Mr.  Conolly  seems  dis- 
posed to  be  somewhat  friendly — a  disposition  I  trust  Mr. 
Therry  will  guard  against."6 

c  Bishop  Polding's  letter  is  quoted  at  greater  length  in  Appendix  A, 
No.  32.  Apart  from  its  mention  of  Father  Therry,  it  is  interesting  for 
the  indications  given  in  it  of  the  Bishop's  attitude  towards  Governor 
Gipps  and  towards  the  convict  system  in  general. 


FATHER   WATKINS  197 

Father  Therry's  official  papers  designated  him  "Visitor"  of 
the  Tasmanian  Church;  Father  Watkins  was  still  the  Vicar 
General,  recognized  by  Government.  This  duplication  of  offices 
caused  much  inconvenience.  His  appointment  had  been  made 
known  to  the  Governor  by  the  Bishop,  but  no  mention  was 
made  of  his  superseding  Father  Watkins  as  Vicar  General. 
Consequently  when  he  determined  to  utilize  the  services  of 
the  three  priests  then  in  Van  Diemen's  Land  to  the  greatest 
advantage,  and  notified  the  Governor  of  his  intentions,  he  met 
with  unexpected  difficulties: — 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  the  Governor  that  the  Rev. 
James  Watkins,  V.G.  has  undertaken  to  perform  duty  from 
ist  prox.  in  the  church  and  district  of  Richmond,  in  place  of 
the  Rev.  James  Cotham,  who  proceeds  this  week  to  Launces- 
ton,  and  that  the  clerical  duties  of  this  place  devolve  on  me. 
This  arrangement  has  become  expedient  in  consequence  of 
the  unexpected  difficulties  that  I  have  met  since  my  arrival, 
rendering  my  stay  in  this  colony  much  more  protracted  than 
my  Bishop  or  myself  could  have  anticipated  prior  to  my  de- 
parture from  Sydney. 

But  the  Governor  raised  objections.  Father  Cotham's  ap- 
pointment to  Richmond  had  been  officially  recognized;  on  his 
removal  to  Launceston  the  Government  refused  to  support 
him,  on  the  plea  that  "salaries  are  confined  to  ministers  whose 
churches  have  been  erected  for  their  congregations."  Many 
letters  from  Father  Cotham  show  that  he  was  in  a  state  of 
poverty.  A  postscript  to  a  letter  to  Father  Therry  states  "I 
have  not  one  shilling  in  my  house,  or  I  would  pay  the  postage 
of  this  letter."  Father  Therry  was  compelled  to  provide  for 
his  support  from  his  own  scant  purse. 

Even  when  Father  Watkins  was  recalled7  by  Bishop  Pold- 
ing,  and  Father  Therry  was  appointed  Vicar  General  in  his 
place,  no  notification  of  the  change  was  made  to  the  Tas- 
manian Government.  Consequently,  his  application  for  recog- 
nition by  the  Government  lacked  authority.  He  had  written  to 
the   Colonial   Secretary  defining  his  powers  as  Visitor,  and 

7  Apparently  at  his  own  request :  see  Appendix  A,  No.  39.    But  No.  33 
presents  a  different  view  of  Father  Watkins. 


198  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

pointing  out  that  the  Governor  had  officially  recognized  his 
position.    In  reply  he  was  told: — 

The  Lieutenant  Governor  has  had  under  consideration 
your  letter  relative  to  your  claim  to  be  recognized  as  the 
Catholic  Vicar  General  of  the  Colony.  You  say  that,  upon 
your  arrival  in  the  Colony,  you  transmitted  through  Major 
Ryan  an  introduction  from  your  Bishop  to  His  Excellency, 
which  you  thought  conveyed  all  the  information  Government 
would  require.  His  Excellency  observes  that,  in  the  letters 
from  the  Private  Secretary  to  which  you  allude,  you  are  merely 
informed  that  His  Excellency  will  receive  you  in  that  capacity. 
Such  a  communication  does  not  imply  a  recognition  of  you 
as  Head  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Department  here,  or  in  any 
way  an  integral  member  of  that  Department.  Whilst  the  ap- 
pointment of  Revd.  Mr.  Watkins  continues  unrevoked,  the 
Governor  cannot  recognize  you,  in  his  stead,  as  head  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Department.  .  .  . 

In  the  end  Dr.  Polding  supplied  the  required  information : 

On  perusing  the  correspondence  which  has  taken  place 
between  the  Very  Reverend  John  Joseph  Therry  and  the  Gov- 
ernment of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  I  perceive  a  difficulty  has 
arisen  respecting  his  position,  which  has  been  deemed  suffi- 
ciently valid  to  withhold  the  stipend  paid  to  the  Vicar  General 
as  local  head  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  In  reference  to 
the  subject,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Excellency  that 
the  authority  of  Visitor  on  the  part  of  the  Bishop  absorbs 
and  comprises  the  authority  and  functions  of  the  Vicar 
General.8 

This  explanation  secured  to  Father  Therry  official  recog- 
nition, and  a  salary  of  £300  per  annum. 

It  was  not  until  23  March,  1839,  that  Dr.  Polding  proposed 
that  Father  Therry's  stay  in  Tasmania  should  be  permanent. 
Dr.  Ullathorne  was  evidently  anxious  that  he  should  not  re- 
turn to  Sydney.   The  Bishop  wrote : — 

With  respect  to  yourself,  it  will  give  me,  my  dear  and 
reverend  friend,  great  satisfaction  if  you  will  retain  the  posi- 
tion you  now  hold  as  Vicar  General  of  Van  Diemen's  Land, 
in  which  you  have  rendered  very  great  service  to  religion.    I 

8  Quoted  by  the  Revd.  J.  Cullen  in  Austral  Light,  Jan.,  1917. 


FATHER   THERRY   VICAR   GENERAL  199 

am  aware  that  this  arrangement  will  call  upon  you  for  a  great 
sacrifice.  Were  the  circumstances  similar  to  those  in  which 
you  were  placed  when  you  first  arrived  in  Hobart  Town  in 
1820,  I  could  not  ask  you  to  endure  so  much  inconvenience; 
they  are,  however,  much  altered.  Your  own  good  sense  will 
tell  you  how  requisite,  with  many  other  excellent  qualities, 
colonial  experience  is  in  such  a  situation.  How  essential  it 
is  that  I  should  have  a  local  Superior,  who  will  encourage 
by  word  and  example  his  subordinate  co-operators,  that  the 
first  missionaries  should  be  imbued  with  the  proper  spirit. 
The  present  number  is  not  sufficient  for  the  extent  of  country 
over  which  the  population  is  scattered.  But  I  think  that  in 
the  course  of  a  short  time  I  shall  be  able  to  send  additional 
aid  from  the  Seminary.  I  would  wish  to  consult  your  own 
inclinations.  If  they  are  in  accord  with  the  views  above  ex- 
pressed, I  shall  be  much  gratified. 

Father  Therry's  reply  was : — 

When  your  Lordship  first  expressed  a  wish  that  I  should 
proceed  to  this  place,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  gratify  that  wish, 
though  at  the  risk  of  property  and  health,  because  I  was  then, 
and  I  trust  I  shall  ever  be,  sincerely  convinced  that  it  eman- 
ated from  a  truly  pastoral  zeal  for  the  interest  of  religion.  I 
accept  the  proposal  made  in  your  paternal  letter  of  the  23rd 
ult;  but  with  great  diffidence  on  account  of  my  great  un- 
worthiness  and  inability,  and  only  on  the  condition  that  your 
Lordship  will,  without  consulting  my  interests  or  inclination, 
appoint  whenever  the  interests  of  Religion  may  render  it 
necessary  or  expedient,  a  better  qualified  clergyman  as  your 
Lordship's  representative  in  this  colony. 

The  bearer  of  the  Bishop's  letter  was  more  welcome  than 
the  commission  he  conveyed.  Father  Butler  had  come  to  share 
the  labour,  and  was  appointed  to  Richmond.  Father  Therry 
was  more  at  his  ease  now;  his  authority  had  been  vindicated, 
and  he  had  a  capable  priest  to  assist  him. 

The  dissensions  caused  by  Father  Conolly  had  not  entirely 
disappeared.  The  land  which  he  was  believed  to  have  alienated 
had  not  been  restored  to  the  Church,  and  the  suspension 
had  not  been  lifted.  He  still  claimed  that  the  land  on 
which  his  house  was  built  was  his  own  property;  the  allot- 
ment on  which  he  had  laid  the  foundation  of  a  stone  chapel 


200 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 


was,  he  conceded,  Church  property.  Father  Therry  seems  to 
have  ingratiated  himself  with  his  old  companion.  It  was  well. 
The  troublesome  priest  was  fast  approaching  the  grave.  Dur- 
ing his  illness  he  was  visited  frequently  by  Father  Butler  and 
Father  Therry.  By  the  hands  of  his  first  companion  in  Aus- 
tralia the  suspension  was  lifted,  and  the  last  rites  of  the  Church 
administered.  He  died  a  holy  death.  On  the  day  of  his  funeral 
Father  Therry  chanted  a  Requiem  Mass  at  noon,  and  the 
first  Pastor  of  Tasmania  was  buried  amidst  the  tears  of  crowds 
of  people,  in  that  portion  of  the  land  which  he  always  con- 
ceded was  church  property.  Over  his  grave,  some  years  later, 
a  plain  headstone  was  placed,  and  on  it  in  a  few  words  the 
summary  of  his  life : — 


OLLY'S  GRAVE, 


Of  your  charity,  pray  for  the  soul  of  the  Rev.  Philip 
Conolly,  who  died  the  3rd  day  of  August,  1839,  aged  53  years. 
"My  days  have  declined  like  a  shadow,  and  I  am  withered 
like  grass."   Ps.  CI.  12.9 

After  his  death  his  brother,  acting  for  the  heirs  to  Father 

"His    remains    were    afterwards    moved    to    St.    Mary's    Cathedral, 
Hobart,  where  they  rest  close  to  those  of  the  first  Archbishop. 


DEATH  OF  FATHER  CONOLLY        201 

Conolly's    estate,    sent    the    following    agreement    to    Father 
Therry:— 10 

In  nomine  Domini,  Amen: 
I  the  undersigned  Patrick  Conolly,  being  the  oldest  brother 
and  heir  at  law  of  the  late  Rev.  Philip  Conolly  of  Hobart 
Town,  do  hereby  relinquish  any  claim  I  may  have,  or  be 
supposed  to  have,  on  the  premises  and  land  known  at  one 
time  by  the  name  of  Killard,  and  now  by  that  of  Mount  Car- 
mel,  which  is  bounded  by  Brisbane  Street,  Harrington  Street, 
Patrick  Street  and  Barrack  Street,  and  which  was  for  some 
years  occupied  by  the  said  Philip,  in  favour  of  the  Right  Rev. 
Doctor  John  Bede  Polding,  the  Very  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  Vicar- 
General,  and  of  their  lawful  successors  for  the  benefit  and 
advantage  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church.  Given  under  my 
hand  this  15th  day  of  December,  1840,  in  presence  of  the 
undersigned  witnesses. 

(Signed)  Patrick  Conolly. 
Witnesses  : — Thomas  Butler. 

P.  Williamson. 

C.  Cooper. 

Father  Therry's  beneficial  influence  was  felt  from  the 
earliest  days  of  his  coming  to  Tasmania.  He  rented  the  Ar- 
gyle  Rooms,11  where  on  Sundays  he  gathered  his  people  around 
him.  Preaching  by  word  and  example,  he  soon  effected  the 
same  change  as  he  had  brought  about  amongst  the  neglected 
Catholics  of  Sydney.  Within  a  month  of  his  arrival  in  Hobart, 
on  28  June,  he  recorded  in  his  diary  that  "two  Masses  were 
celebrated  in  the  morning,  Rosary  in  the  evening,  and  com- 
menced the  enrolment  of  many  Catholics  desirous  of  becom- 
ing members  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Society,  the  Sodality  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  the  confraternity  of  St.  Joseph  for  the 
avoidance  of  strong  drink. "  Port  Arthur  and  the  many 
gaols,  with  their  Catholic  prisoners,  required  more  attention 
than  he  could  spare ;  but,  when  Father  Butler  arrived  to  assist 
in  the  work,  Fathers  Cotham  and  Therry  were  enabled  to 
draw  up  a  definite  plan  for  visiting  the  interior  districts  and 
ministering  to  the  prisoners. 

10  Cf.  Appendix  A,  No.  40. 

11  Now  the  Carlton  Club  Hotel. 


202  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

The  need  for  a  parish  church  was  pressing.  Father  Con- 
olly's  small  chapel  was  inadequate ;  the  foundations  of  a  larger 
building  near  the  same  site  had  been  laid,  and  definite  steps  were 
now  taken  to  build.  In  1840  a  petition  was  drawn  up  and  pre- 
sented to  Sir  John  Franklin,  stating  that  already  £1000  had  been 
subscribed  towards  the  building  of  St.  Mary's  in  the  north- 
western division  of  Hobart,  and  praying  that  Government 
would  grant  the  assistance  promised  under  a  recent  Act  On 
the  8th  of  August,  1840,  Father  Therry  wrote  that  Govern- 
ment had  been  good  enough  to  grant  eight  workmen  for  the 
Brisbane  Street  church,  and  a  similar  number  for  the  Laun- 
ceston  Church ;  and  requested  further  assistance  for  the  church 
of  St  Joseph,  which  he  contemplated  building  in  Macquarie 
Street  On  25  May,  1841,  he  informed  Dr.  Polding  that  this 
request  for  funds  had  been  refused:- — 

The  Governor  availed  himself  of  the  discretionary  power 
granted  to  him  in  the  last  session  of  the  Legislative  Council, 
to  refuse  assistance  to  St.  Joseph's.  I  confidently  hope  that 
Divine  Providence  will  enable  me  to  redeem  my  heavy  re- 
sponsibilities, and  that  no  enemy  will  be  able  to  prevent  the 
completion  of  the  church. 

The  church  of  St.  Joseph  is  the  great  work  around  which 
centred  so  much  of  Father  Therry's  Tasmanian  labours — and 
the  rock  upon  which  his  hopes  were  shattered. 

Memoranda  made  by  him  in  1840  give  some  interesting 
notes  about  the  obtaining  of  the  land.  Three  blocks  of  ground 
were  bought — one  of  forty-eight  feet  fronting  Harrington 
Street  for  £146  from  Charles  Newman;  a  similar  area  for  £164 
from  John  Moses ;  and  another,  with  a  frontage  of  50  feet  to 
Macquarie  Street,  from  the  same  vendor  for  £375.  This  sale 
was  a  momentous  matter  for  the  Catholics  of  Hobart.  For 
nearly  twenty  years  its  terms  were  discussed  by  Judges  and 
Bishops,  by  Propaganda,  and  by  the  smallest  Catholic  child 
in  Hobart.  Building  was  commenced  in  1840,  and  the  church 
was  opened  on  Christmas  Day,  1841.12  To-day  the  building  is 
"  See  also  Appendix  A,  No.  44- 


ST.   JOSEPH'S    CHURCH,    HOBART  203 

practically  in  the  same  condition  as  when  Father  Therry  left 
it. 

Father  Therry  had  made  himself  personally  responsible — 
both  by  drafts  on  the  security  of  his  several  properties,  and 
by  promissory  notes — for  money  to  cover  this  expenditure. 
He  wrote  to  the  Governor,  at  the  time  of  the  founding  of  St. 
Joseph's:  "I  have  paid  £20  as  a  subscription  to  the  chapel 
now  in  course  of  erection  in  Macquarie  Street,  and  am  person- 
ally responsible  on  its  account  for  a  sum  of  about  £1600." 
This  was  the  amount  mentioned  in  later  years,  when  the  dis- 
pute with  Dr.  Willson  was  raging  violently.  Again  he  writes 
to  his  agent  in  New  South  Wales  "For  the  Lord's  sake  sell 
any  portion  of  my  property,  should  it  be  necessary  to  pay  the 
whole  of  these  my  just  debts;"  and  in  the  next  sentence  "Do 
not  forget  to  help  the  poor  widow  O'Brien  of  Campbelltown." 
If  there  had  not  been  so  many  poor — both  deserving  and  un- 
deserving— Father  Therry's  finances  might  always  have  been 
in  a  healthy  condition. 

A  correspondent  (Father  Kelsh,  who  was  baptized  by 
Father  Therry  in  1843)  has  supplied  some  interesting  recol- 
lections of  ecclesiastical  functions  in  St.  Joseph's.  The  Holy 
Week  ceremonies  were  not  omitted.  The  morning  ceremonies 
with  their  beautiful  rituals  were  carried  out  as  well  as  one 
priest  could  manage,  and  at  night  Father  Therry,  seated  in 
the  sanctuary  with  his  fellow  priests,  would  recite  the  Office 
of  Tenebrae,  indicating  by  a  stamp  of  his  foot  the  moment  at 
which  the  Altar-boys  should  extinguish  the  symbolic  candles 
on  the  triangular  candlestick.  In  all  the  services  of  the  Church 
he  aimed  at  the  greatest  solemnity  possible.  Where  the  inti- 
mate service  of  the  Altar  was  concerned,  nothing  could  be  too 
good.  This  was  one  of  his  answers  to  the  critics  who  thought 
St.  Mary's  at  Sydney  too  elaborate  for  the  times.  His  churches 
are  lasting  monuments  to  his  ardent  respect  for  the  God 
Whose  servant  he  was. 

Constant  worries  and  struggles  were  at  last  showing  their 
effect  upon  the  energetic  missionary.  Twice  in  the  ten  years 
of  his  lonely  mission  in  Sydney  had  he  thought  of  retiring; 


204  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

but,  when  his  Bishop  put  plainly  to  him  that  if  he  de- 
serted there  was  none  to  take  his  place,  his  courage  rallied  and 
his  health  found  renewed  vitality  in  extra  work.  The  same 
despondent  feeling  was  upon  him  now.  He  regarded  his  work 
as  a  failure,  because  it  was  slow  in  maturing.  He  was  heartily 
sick  of  fighting.  Could  he  not  end  his  years  in  peace  in  the 
land  where  the  ripening  harvest  of  his  early  labours  would 
condone  his  inactivity?  He  wrote  to  the  Bishop  advising  him 
to  secure  a  Coadjutor-Bishop  who  would  reside  in  Tasmania, 
to  procure  other  missionaries  from  abroad,  and  to  relieve  him 
of  the  Tasmanian  mission.  The  Bishop  knew  his  man.  He 
was  not  surprised  at  the  despondent  tone  of  the  resignation. 
Only  one  way  would  succeed — to  hint  at  the  damage  that 
Christ's  Church  might  suffer  by  his  withdrawal,  to  suggest 
that  there  appeared  some  slight  signs  of  desertion  and  cowar- 
dice. He  wrote  on  November  n,  the  Feast  of  St.  Martin  of 
Tours,  from  whose  life  he  drew  a  comparison: — 

I  am  on  the  point  of  sailing  for  Europe.  ...  A  rumour 
has  reached  here — which,  were  it  not  sanctioned  by  the  re- 
spectable authority  of  Mr.  O'Sullivan,  I  should  deem  one  of 
the  stories  which  every  day  brings  forth — that  it  is  your 
intention  to  retire  entirely  from  missionary  duty.  This  I  can- 
not hear  without  much  grief.  It  is  of  the  greatest  importance 
that  I  should  know  what  are  your  intentions.  I  trust,  with  the 
example  of  St.  Martin  before  you,  you  will  pause  before  you 
come  to  this  conclusion.  Let  me  hear  from  you  by  an  early 
post. 

The  Bishop  reserved  a  word  of  encouragement  for  the  last. 
In  a  postscript  he  adds : — 

I  authorize  you  by  virtue  of  the  powers  I  have  received 
from  the  Holy  See,  to  communicate  to  all  within  your  Vicar- 
iate the  benefit  of  a  Plenary  indulgence  three  times  in  the 
year.  .  .  .  Adieu.  May  God  bless  and  preserve  you.  Ever 
affectionately,    >J<  J.  B.  Polding. 

The  reference  to  the  office  for  the  feast  of  St.  Martin  has 
more  meaning  in  it  than  appears  at  first  sight.   The  responses 


ST.  JOSEPH'S   CHURCH,  HOBART 
(From  photograph   by  J.    IV.  Bcattie) 


To  face   p.   204 


ST.    MARTIN'S    EXAMPLE  205 

to  the  third  and  sixth  lessons  of  that  day's  Matins  were  to 
the  point : — 13 

O  beatum  Virum  Martinum  antistitem,  qui  nee  mori  timuit, 
nee  vivere  recusavit.  Domine  si  adhuc  populo  tuo  sum 
necessarius,  non  recuso  laborem:  fiat  voluntas  tua.  .  .  . 
Dixerunt  discipuli  ad  beatum  Martinum:  Cur  nos,  pater, 
deseris,  aut  cui  nos  desolatos  relinquis  ?  Invadent  enim  gregem 
tuum  lupi  rapaces.  Scimus  quidem  desiderare  te  Christum, 
sed  salva  sunt  tibi  tua  praemia :  nostri  potius  miserere,  quos 
deseris. 

Father  Therry's  reply,  which  he  had  to  send  to  Europe, 
was  as  follows  : — 

....  I  have  no  Assistant  and  have  to  acknowledge  that  I 
merit  the  woe  of  being  alone  were  it  for  nothing  else  than  my 
neglect  of  more  earnestly  and  frequently  soliciting  your  Lord- 
ship to  send  Labourers  to  this  Portion  of  the  Vineyard  of  our 
Lord,  where  indeed  the  harvest  would  be  great  were  there 
sufficient  Labourers  to  Secure  it.  Under  such  circumstances  I 
should  be  unworthy  of  your  Lordship's  confidence  were  I  to 
contemplate  even  for  a  moment  Retiring  from  the  Mission. 
Were  such  an  intention  seriously  entertained  by  me  it  should 
as  your  Lordship  has  already  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing 
never  be  acted  upon  without  your  Lordship's  full  and  formal 
approbation.  But  it  would  be  worse  than  folly  on  my  part, 
however  inclined  I  might  be,  to  form  at  present  such  a  reso- 
lution, involved  as  I  am  in  difficulties  arising  from  heavy 
personal  Responsibilities  on  account  of  our  intended  Churches 
and  from  which  I  could  not  for  a  considerable  time  be  freed 
without  a  ruinous  Sacrifice  of  private  property  which  might 
render  me  totally  unable  to  fulfil  obligations  of  justice  and 
charity  to  which  I  am  bound. 

So  he  took  up  his  burden  again. 


13  "Oh  how  blessed  a  man  was  Bishop  Martin ;  he  neither  feared  to 
die,  nor  refused  to  live.  Lord,  if  I  be  still  needful  to  Thy  people,  I 
refuse  not  to  work  for  them.  Thy  will  be  done.  .  .  .  His  disciples 
said  unto  blessed  Martin :  Father,  why  wilt  thou  go  away  from  us,  or 
to  whom  wilt  thou  leave  us  orphans?  For  ravening  wolves  will  break 
in  upon  thy  flock.  We  know  that  thou  wouldest  fain  be  with  Christ, 
but,  sooner  or  later,  thy  reward  is  sure.  Rather,  then,  have  pity  on 
us,  whom  thou  art  leaving." — From  the  Marquess  of  Bute's  translation 
of  the  Roman  Breviary. 


is 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

*    .    .     .     I  speak  a  heavy  thing, 
O  patience,  most  sorrowful  of  daughters ! 
Lo,  the  hour  is  at  hand  for  the  troubling  of  the  land, 
And  red  shall  be  the  breaking  of  the  waters. 

— Francis  Thompson. 

It  was,  of  course,  not  only  church-building  that  claimed 
Father  Therry's  attentions.  Convicts  were  not  allowed  to 
attend  Catholic  devotions ;  he  must  fight  their  battles.  Catholic 
children  were  spirited  away  by  officials  into  an  orphanage 
school  infinitely  more  dangerous  to  morality  and  religion  than 
the  Hobbes-Scott  schools  of  Sydney.  They  must  be  redeemed 
He  did  not  spare  his  pen,  his  energies,  or  his  money.  Eight 
hundred  pounds  was  a  fabulous  sum  to  promise  in  those  days ; 
but  this  amount,  and  more,  he  offered  for  their  redemption. 

A  large  number  of  Catholic  children  were  inmates  of  the 
Government  Orphanage.  This  institution  had  been  opened 
for  about  eight  years,  and  during  that  time  the  priests  and 
Dr.  Polding  had  frequently  petitioned  that  the  inmates  should 
be  allowed  to  follow  the  religion  of  their  parents.  Petitions 
were  vain.  The  superior  of  the  institution  was  a  Protestant 
chaplain;  the  school  was  regarded  as  an  Anglican  institution, 
and  the  Catholic  priest  was  refused  the  right  of  entry.  The 
injustice  was  evident  to  all  thoughtful  citizens.  Within  three 
months  of  Father  Therry's  coming  a  petition,  signed  by 
eighteen  Catholic  laymen,  and  endorsed  by  one  hundred  and 
sixty-three  Protestants,  drew  the  Governor's  attention  to  the 
nefarious  system:1 

To  His  Excellency  Sir  John  Franklin,  K.C.H.,  K.R.,  etc., 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  etc.,  etc.,  etc., 
and  the  Honourable  the  Legislative  Council: — 

The  humble  petition  of  the  Lay  Committee  of  that  portion 
of  Her  Majesty's  loyal  and  dutiful  subjects,  who  form  the 
Roman  Catholic  congregation  of  Hobart  Town,  on  behalf  of 
themselves  and  their  constitutents, 

1  Cardinal  Moran,  p.  249. 


TASMANIAN    ORPHAN    SCHOOLS  207 

Most  respectfully  sheweth  that  your  Petitioners  have  long 
and  deeply  deplored  the  want  in  this  Colony  of  a  provision 
for  the  support  and  education  of  orphan  and  other  destitute 
children  of  Catholic  parents. 

Your  Petitioners  are  aware  that  there  is  established  here 
a  noble  institution,  most  liberally  endowed  for  the  reception, 
maintenance  and  education  of  orphan  and  destitute  Protest- 
ant children ;  but  they  are  also  aware  that  that  institution  is  so 
essentially  and  exclusively  Protestant  that  no  Catholic  child- 
ren can  be  admitted  within  its  precincts  without  an  absolute 
sacrifice  of  the  principles  and  practice  of  that  ancient  and 
holy  religion  to  which  their  sponsors  had  solemnly  guaranteed 
their  perpetual  adherence  at  the  sacred  font  of  baptism. 

Your  petitioners  most  respectfully  and  humbly  submit  that 
to  require  in  these  days  of  enlightened  liberality  from  un- 
educated and  destitute  children,  such  a  sacrifice  as  an  indis- 
pensable condition  to  qualify  them  to  receive  from  Her 
Majesty's  Government  means  of  education  and  support  would 
be  as  revolting  to  the  finest  feelings  of  human  nature  as  it 
would  be  repugnant  to  the  established  principles  of  unsophisti- 
cated Christian  morality. 

Your  petitioners  also  submit  humbly  and  confidently  to  the 
paternal  consideration  of  your  Excellency  and  the  Honourable 
the  Legislative  Council,  that,  if  a  distressed  widower  or  widow, 
unable  through  untoward  circumstances  to  provide  for  a  help- 
less offspring,  or  the  destitute  and  dying  parent  consent,  under 
the  severe  and  accumulated  pressure  of  sorrow,  grief,  and 
affliction,  that  their  unprotected  children  should  be  forcibly 
and  unnaturally  severed  from  their  attachment  and  adherence 
to  that  religion  which  to  themselves  was  more  dear  than  life, 
it  is  only  because  they  have  no  alternative  between  the  star- 
vation of  their  children  and  that  most  painful  sacrifice. 

Your  petitioners,  in  respectfully  submitting  the  premises 
to  the  benevolent  and  favourable  consideration  of  your  Excell- 
ency and  to  that  of  the  Honourable  the  Legislative  Council, 
most  earnestly  and  confidently  pray  the  aid  of  Her  Majesty's 
Government  towards  the  establishment  of  a  Catholic  orphan 
school,  in  which  the  destitute  children  of  Catholic  parents 
may  receive  protection  and  support,  and  be  educated  in  accord- 
ance with  the  doctrine  of  the  Church  of  their  baptism. 

And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray, 
etc. 

Father  Therry  was  not  hopeful  for  the  success  of  the  peti- 


18a 


208  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

tion.  The  salvation  of  the  children  was  too  important  to  post- 
pone until  Government  opposition  was  withdrawn.  He  deter- 
mined to  establish  an  orphanage  at  his  own  expense : — 

Sir  Richard  Bourke,  who,  it  is  admitted  even  by  his  avowed 
enemies,  is  an  excellent  statesman,  and  Sir  George  Gipps,  have 
refused  to  sanction  so  unjust  an  infringement  of  the  sacred 
rights  of  conscience.  The  former,  on  the  presentation  of  a 
petition,  recommended  that  £600  should  be  immediately  voted, 
and  the  latter  directed  that  all  Catholic  children  then  in  the 
Protestant  Orphanage  School  should  be  transferred,  with  a 
sum  equivalent  to  the  expense  of  their  support,  to  the  newly 
formed  Catholic  establishment.  .  .  .  Although  I  have  no  doubt 
as  to  the  favourable  reception  of  that  petition  by  Her  Majesty's 
Government,  as  it  is  my  firm  opinion  that  His  Excellency's 
recommendation  alone  would  ensure  to  it  in  that  high  quarter 
the  object  of  its  prayer,  yet,  Sir,  I  look  with  feelings  of 
alarm  through  the  long  vista  of  time  which  must  necessarily 
intervene  between  the  petitioners  and  that  object.  To  the  fre- 
quently excited  and  as  often  disappointed  and  depressed  ex- 
pectations of  the  petitioners  the  prospect  will  appear  dark  and 
dismal  unless  His  Excellency  consent  that  a  partial  provision 
be  immediately  made  for  these  destitute  children.  I  have  said 
"partial  provision,"  as  I  am  willing  (and  do  hereby  offer)  to 
provide  a  house  for  their  reception  at  my  personal  expense, 
should  I  not  be  enabled  to  do  so  either  by  the  local  Govern- 
ment or  by  private  subscription.  I  have  been  furnished  with 
the  names  of  several  Catholic  children  now  in  the  Protestant 
Orphan  School,  who  are,  in  opposition  to  the  liberal  and  bene- 
ficent spirit  of  the  time,  as  well  as  to  the  wise  and  benevolent 
policy  of  Her  Majesty's  Government,  compelled  either  to 
apostatize  or  immediately  relinquish  the  only  means  they  pos- 
sess of  obtaining  support  and  education. 

The  precedent  quoted  was  not  of  sufficient  force  to  induce 
the  Governor  to  act.  The  matter  was  referred  to  Downing 
Street,  and  on  24  March,  1841,  its  decision  was  transmitted 
to  Father  Therry: — 2 

....  Lord  John  Russell  observes  that,  having  con- 
sidered this  application,  he  has  in  reply  to  express  his  opinion 
that  it  would  be  impracticable  to  sanction  a  vote  of  money  for 
establishing  a  Roman  Catholic  School  without  first  ascertain- 

2  Austral  Light,  March,  1917. 


FATHER   THERRY'S    PROTESTS  209 

ing  with  a  great  degree  of  precision  the  probable  number  of 
the  children  to  be  admitted  into  such  an  institution,  and  the 
probable  amount  of  the  expense  which  would  attend  its  es- 
tablishment. His  Lordship  is  further  of  opinion  that  it  would 
be  at  once  vain  and  injurious  to  attempt  the  establishment  of 
separate  public  charities  of  this  nature  for  the  children  of 
each  of  the  different  sects  of  Christians,  who  may  regard  the 
religious  tenets  of  the  rest  as  involving  vital  errors. 

The  position  was  unaltered.  It  was  useless  for  him  to 
apply  for  admission  to  the  orphanage,  even  to  administer  the 
Sacraments  to  a  dying  child.  Each  month  he  protested  to  the 
Government  against  the  injustice.  On  10  May,  1841,  he 
wrote : — 

It  is  my  duty  to  inform  His  Excellency  that  having  been 
requested  on  yesterday  evening  by  a  prisoner  in  the  female 
house  of  correction  to  visit  her  son  Henry  Phillips,  a  boy 
about  eleven  years  old,  who  she  stated  was  then  at  the  point 
of  death,  I  immediately  proceeded  to  the  establishment  for  the 
purpose  of  administering  the  last  rites  of  the  Church,  and  that 
on  my  arrival,  the  Protestant  Clergyman  who  presides  there, 
refused  me  permission  to  visit  the  patient. 

Such  cases  were  numerous.  On  15  April,  1841,  he  wrote 
to  John  Montagu,  the  Colonial  Secretary: — 3 

Sir, 

Having  heard  you  eloquently  and  successfully  deprecate 
in  your  place  in  the  Legislative  Council  as  unlawful  and  unjust 
any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  local  Legislature  to  infringe  on 
the  sacred  rights  of  conscience,  and,  believing  that  the  senti- 
ments expressed  by  you  on  that  occasion  have  not  been  altered 
by  your  recent  visit  to  Great  Britain,  I  now  appeal  to  you  with 
great  confidence  on  behalf  of  the  thirty  Roman  Catholic  child- 
ren who  have  recently  arrived  in  the  colony  by  the  "Mary  Ann" 
prison  ship,  and  who  are,  I  am  informed,  to  be  sent  by  order 
of  the  local  Government  to  the  Protestant  orphan  school; 
where,  unless  you  interpose  your  advice  and  influence,  they  are 
to  be  compelled  to  abandon  the  religion  of  their  parents.  In- 
formed, as  I  have  officially  been,  that  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 
considering  that  school  as  essentially  Protestant,  cannot 
permit  any  of  its  inmates  to  be  instructed  in  accordance  with 

8  Cardinal  Moran,  p.  250. 


210  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

the  principles  of  the  Catholic  religion,  and,  having  reason  to 
believe  that  there  are  no  funds  as  yet  appropriated  to  the  for- 
mation of  a  separate  establishment  for  Catholic  children,  I  am 
anxious  for  permission  to  contribute  on  my  part  to  remove  or 
lessen  the  serious  difficulty  thus  created  by  submitting  a  pro- 
posal of  which  I  most  respectfully  solicit  His  Excellency's 
adoption.  The  house  in  which  I  reside  has  been  purchased 
and  greatly  improved  by  me  and  is  now  much  better  adapted, 
in  my  opinion,  for  a  public  institution  than  a  private  residence ; 
it  is  fit  at  present  for  the  reception  of  fifty  children  and  might 
without  much  expense  be  made  to  accommodate  a  much  greater 
number.  I  propose  to  give  this  house  to  the  Government, 
free  from  any  encumbrance,  as  a  Catholic  orphan  school,  in 
exchange  for  an  equivalent  in  some  of  the  waste  pasturage 
lands  of  the  colony.  I  beg  to  add  that,  should  this  arrangement 
be  approved  by  His  Excellency,  I  shall  have  great  pleasure 
in  immediately  vacating  the  house  at  my  sole  risk  in  favour 
of  the  poor  children,  that  is,  I  shall  not  require  possession  of, 
or  any  title  to  the  land,  till  the  approbation  of  the  Right  Hon. 
the  Secretary  of  State  shall  have  been  obtained;  and,  in  the 
event  of  the  arrangement  being  disallowed,  I  shall  require  no 
rent  for  the  interval  during  which  the  premises  may  be  occupied 
by  the  children. 

His  Excellently  declined  the  proposal.4 

Father  Therry  was  confronted  with  a  situation  similar  to 
that  which  he  had  faced  long  before  in  Sydney.  He  repeated 
the  tactics  he  had  used  then.  On  30  January,  1844,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ewing,  the  superior  of  the  Orphan  School,  bitterly  pro- 
tested to  Government: — 5 

I  beg  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Vicar 
General  of  the  Roman  Catholics  was  at  the  schools  last  even- 
ing without  making  me  acquainted  with  it,  questioning  the 
matron  respecting  the  number  of  Roman  Catholic  children 
in  the  establishment,  and  asking  if  the  school  masters  would 
have  any  objection  to  teach  the  Roman  Catholic  catechism  in 
the.  school  room.  He  also  stated  that  he  should  be  here  again 
on  Friday  next  to  take  down  the  names  and  numbers.  This 
of  course,  as  headmaster,  I  shall  disallow,  and  I  have  earnestly 
to  beg  that  until  Captain  Booth  is  appointed,  in  April  next,  no 

4  See  also  Appendix  A,  No.  34. 
6  Cf.  Austral  Light,  March,  1917. 


FREEDOM  OF  CONSCIENCE  GRANTED     211 

interference  may  be  allowed  with  my  duties,  as  it  can  only  lead 
to  unpleasantness  between  the  Vicar  General  and  myself ; 
whereas  if  he  waits  until  a  layman  is  in  charge,  a  proper 
division  of  the  children  can  immediately  be  made,  by  order  of 
the  Government,  by  one  much  more  likely  to  be  unbiassed  than 
ourselves,  and  we  can  then  be  left  to  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  children  of  our  own  creed. 

Father  Therry  replied  that  he  felt  sure  that  the  Governor 
would  not  require  of  him  a  compromise  of  duty : — 

I  cannot  however  conceal  my  regret  that  the  headmaster 
should  be  so  anxious  to  continue  the  spiritual  tyranny  which 
he  has  so  long  exercised  over  the  poor  Catholic  children  of  that 
institution,  and  that  he  should,  on  that  account,  feel  it  necessary 
to  debar  me,  who  have  the  honour  to  be  their  legitimate  pastor, 
from  a  right  which,  if  I  am  not  misinformed,  the  regulations 
of  the  establishment  allow  to  all  respectable  persons — namely, 
to  visit  it  on  any  day  of  the  week,  with  the  exception  of  Sun- 
day, an  exception  which,  in  one  case  with  which  I  have  been 
connected,  has  proved  to  be  most  unfortunate,  as  it  served  as 
an  excuse  to  that  Rev.  gentleman  for  refusing  me  permission 
to  visit,  at  the  request  of  his  poor,  afflicted  mother,  an  only  son 
of  about  eleven  years  of  age  who  was  then  sick  and  dying,  and 
to  whom  I  was  anxious  to  administer  the  last  sacred  and  most 
consolatory  rites  of  the  Catholic  religion.     Requiescat  in  Pace. 

His  struggles  were  at  last  successful.  The  Protestant  head- 
master's term  of  office  came  to  an  end.  In  March,  1844,  Mr. 
Charles  O'Hara  Booth  took  over  the  charge  of  the  Establish- 
ment, and  freedom  of  conscience  was  granted  to  the  Catholic 
wards  of  the  colony.  But  it  was  the  old  story  over  again. 
Father  Therry  had  fought  many  battles  for  justice,  and  as 
usual,  when  success  was  in  sight,  another  stepped  in  to  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  his  struggles.  Three  months  after  the  conquest  of 
the  Orphan  Schools  Bishop  Willson  arrived  at  Hobart. 

11. 

The  rights  of  conscience  of  the  helpless  orphans  of  the 
State  had  thus  been  vindicated ;  but  the  educational  system 
applicable  to  children  whose  parents  were  living  remained 
strictly  denominational.    It  was  unsafe  for  a  Catholic  child  to 


212  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

attend  the  public  schools  of  the  island.  Bible  reading  and 
Anglican  doctrinal  teachings  were  integral  and  necessary  parts 
of  the  authorized  curriculum  of  studies.  The  Catholics  of 
Hobart  were  dissatisfied.  They  urged  Father  Therry  to  bring 
the  matter  before  Government.  They  even  blamed  him  for  in- 
action— for  as  yet  they  had  not  realized  the  futility  of 
placing  Catholic  grievances  before  a  hostile  Government. 
"There  is  not  a  single  school  in  Hobart  to  which  a  Catholic 
child  can  be  sent  without  apostasy  from  the  doctrines  and  dis- 
cipline of  the  Church,  whose  interests  are  committed  to  your 
exclusive  keeping,"  an  indignant  parent  wrote.  Father  Therry 
forwarded  the  complaint  to  the  Colonial  Secretary6: — 

Sir, 

Permit  me  with  that  confidence  which  your  public  and 
private  character  as  a  Christian  and  a  gentleman,  as  well  as  a 
grateful  sense  of  the  many  favours  conferred  on  me  by  you, 
leave  firmly  in  my  mind  to  submit  to  you  a  communication 
which  I  have  this  day  received  from  a  gentleman,  who  at 
one  time  professed  to  be  mine  as  well  as  your  friend,  on  a 
subject  to  which  you,  as  the  most  responsible  member  of  the 
Executive  Government,  must  necessarily  attach  very  high  im- 
portance. On  receiving  yesterday  a  note,  which  I  beg  leave  also 
to  enclose,  from  that  gentleman's  lady,  enquiring  whether  there 
were  any  school  to  which  a  Catholic  child  might  be  sent,  I 
proceeded  to  the  Government  school  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  or  not  Catholic  children  might  be  sent  there  without 
danger  of  an  infringement  on  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  their 
religion,  and  regret  sincerely  to  have  to  say  (but  not  in  the 
strong  language  of  that  gentleman)  that  the  result  of  my 
enquiries  has  been  more  unfavourable  that  I  could  possibly 
expect ;  for,  contrary  to  the  prohibition  of  that  Church,  which 
Catholics  consider  themselves  bottnd  by  the  mandate  of  their 
Redeemer  to  hear  and  obey,  the  Roman  Catholic  children 
who  attend  at  that  school  read  the  Protestant  Bible  and  join 
in  prayer  with  the  children  of  those  denominations  which 
solemnly  protest  against  the  truth  of  the  Catholic  faith  and 
designate  it  as  both  impious  and  idolatrous.  To  those  who 
believe,  as  all  sincere  Catholics  do,  that  there  is  but  one  true 
faith,  a  system  of  education  calculated  to  alienate  or  even 
diminish   their   attachment   to   it   must   appear   dangerous.     I 

8  Cardinal  Moran,  p.  253. 


CATHOLIC    SCHOOLS    ESTABLISHED  213 

should  sincerely  be  desirous  to  support  by  every  legitimate 
means  in  my  power  the  established  schools,  and  I  do,  con- 
scientiously believe  that  I  might  do  so  were  a  Catholic  school- 
master or  assistant  appointed  to  the  Hobart  Town  and  Laun- 
ceston  schools  and  the  Roman  Catholic  children  exempted, 
without  reference  either  to  clergyman  or  parents  from  joining 
in  prayer  and  Bible  reading  with  children  of  different  com- 
munions. But,  as  it  might  require  a  considerable  time  before 
qualified  masters  could  be  procured,  I  beg  leave  to  beg  to  sug- 
gest the  expediency  of  conciliating  the  confidence  of  the 
Catholic  community  by  immediately  and  spontaneously  grant- 
ing the  exemption  to  which  I  have  already  adverted  .  .  . 

The  Secretary  in  reply  insisted  on  "those  common  points 
of  Christianity  upon  which  all  agree,  and  the  knowledge  of 
which  are  necessary  to  render  the  community  good  members 
of  society."  But,  he  added,  if  Catholic  parents  demanded  that 
their  children  should  be  exempted  from  the  reading  of  the 
Bible  and  Protestant  devotions,  their  wishes  would  in  future 
be  granted. 

The  promises  extorted  from  Government  were  not  ob- 
served; Father  Therry  had  frequently  to  complain  that  child- 
ren had  been  compelled  to  attend  Protestant  instruction.  He 
could  not  trust  the  word  of  Government  any  longer.  Conse- 
quently, he  established  temporary  Catholic  schools  in  Elizabeth 
Street  and  on  the  site  of  the  present  Cathedral  grounds.  The 
foundations  of  a  larger  and  permanent  school  were  laid  close 
to  the  church  of  St.  Joseph,  and  the  building  was  well  ad- 
vanced when  Bishop  Willson  took  over  the  control  of  the 
diocese. 

Official  statistics  for  1842  give  the  Catholic  population  of 
Van  Diemen's  Land  as  4,492 ;  of  this  number  only  about  one- 
fourth  were  convicts.  The  word  "convict"  is  used  in  a  wide 
sense.  The  bulk  of  these  unfortunate  prisoners  were  merely 
political  offenders — transported  for  aiding  and  abetting  Irish 
struggles  for  justice.  In  the  island  prison  of  Van  Diemen's 
Land  they  were  shown  but  scant  mercy.  The  most  criminal 
were  huddled  together  in  the  gaols  of  that  darkest  and  most 
inhuman  "Black  Hole"  of  the  world's  history — Port  Arthur. 


214  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Others  were  imprisoned  at  Maria  Island.  On  the  main  roads, 
and  at  every  Government  building,  men  toiled  through  the 
long  day,  urged  on  by  the  threat  of  the  overseer's  lash ;  through 
the  longer  hours  of  night  they  lay  down  to  sleep,  fastened 
together  by  heavy  chains,  upon  the  stone-flagged  floors  of 
filthy  prisons.  They  dared  not  appeal  for  justice;  they  could 
only  hope  for  a  speedy  death.  Into  this  vortex  of  suffering 
Father  Therry  came  as  a  friend.  He  found  young  boys,  sen- 
tenced for  trifling  thefts  or  vagrancies,  thrown  at  random 
into  the  company  of  the  most  profligate  criminals.  They  pro- 
tested to  him.  He  protested  to  Government,  but  his  letters 
were  merely  "received."  They  were  outlaws  from  the  privi- 
leges of  justice.  The  rights  of  conscience  were  denied  to  them. 
Attendance  at  Protestant  services  was  compulsory;  the  lash 
and  the  stocks  were  the  penalty  for  disobedience. 

At  his  first  visit  to  the  Female  House  of  Correction  at  the 
Cascades,  in  August.  1838,  he  had  ordered  the  Catholic  in- 
mates not  to  attend  Protestant  services.  This  was  reported  to 
Government ;  but  next  year  his  orders  were  officially  confirmed. 
In  the  road-gangs,  however,  Catholic  prisoners  were  com- 
pelled by  Protestant  overseers  to  violate  the  principles  of  their 
religion.  Father  Therry  suggested  a  remedy,  by  which  one 
Catholic  overseer  might  be  appointed  who  could  read  prayers 
on  Sundays  for  the  Catholic  prisoners.  But  the  Government 
could  not  see  its  way  clear  to  do  so ;  and  the  evil  continued. 
A  convict  named  Bernard  Trainer  informed  Father  Therry 
that  he  "was  tried  at  Brighton  on  the  5th  March,  1843,  by  Cap- 
tain Forster  for  refusing  to  attend  Protestant  service,  and 
received  a  punishment  of  14  days  and  to  be  kept  in  hard 
labour,  and  my  ticket  suspended."7 

Catholic  overseers  in  charge  of  convicts  were  also  com- 
pelled to  attend  Protestant  services.  One  of  them  protested 
against  this  abuse  of  his  rights  of  conscience,  but  the  Colonial 
Secretary  was  unsympathetic: — 

Young  has  only  been  required  to  perform  a  duty  which, 
when  he   accepted  the  office,  he  must  have  known  of,  and 
7  Cullen,  in  Austral  Light,  Feb.,  1917. 


THE    CASE    OF    MAJOR   ARNEY  215 

should  have  objected  to  if  disagreeable  to  him.  The  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor has  observed  that  if  Young's  conscience  is 
coerced  by  his  accompanying  the  convicts  to  church,  he  ought 
never  to  have  placed  himself  in  the  situation.8 

The  overseer  was  dismissed,  and  his  position  given  to  a 
Protestant. 

The  law  stated  that  no  Catholic  should  be  constrained  to 
attend  Protestant  services  against  his  will.  But,  as  in  every 
system  where  the  interpretation  and  execution  of  the  law  are 
left  to  the  caprices  of  minor  officials,  the  result  was  often 
grossly  unjust.  One  such  case  happened  when  Father  Therry 
attempted  to  visit  the  ship  Orator  to  give  religious  instruc- 
tion to  the  convicts  on  board,  and  Major  Arney,  an  officer  of 
the  ship,  acted  insultingly.  It  may  be  worth  while  to  quote 
from  the  official  report  of  this  incident,  a  copy  of  which  is 
among  the  Therry  papers,  to  illustrate  both  Father  Therry's 
hot  temper  and  fearlessness  of  authority  when  it  was  in  the 
wrong,  and  the  attitude  often  taken  up  by  a  certain  type  of 
official  towards  Catholic  representatives.  The  magistrate  (a 
Mr.  Champ)  who  was  commissioned  to  investigate  the  in- 
cident reported: — 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  make  out,  Mr.  Therry  went 
on  board  the  ship  to  see  the  Catholic  convicts ;  he  had  not  the 
requisite  authority  from  the  Government,  and  was  informed 
by  the  Surgeon  Superintendent  that  he  could  not  be  permitted 

to  remain  on  board Mr.  Therry  went  on  shore,  procured 

an  order  from  the  Assistant  Colonial  Secretary,  and  returned 
to  the  ship.  The  boat  was  hailed  from  the  vessel,  answered 
"Guard  boat,"  and  was  allowed  to  go  alongside.  Mr.  Therry 
mounted  the  ladder  and,  when  he  reached  the  top,  was  accosted 
by  Major  Arney,  who  desired  him  to  descend  again  into  the 
boat.  Mr.  Therry  objected,  saying  that  he  had  an  order,  which 
he  produced  from  his  pocket.  Major  Arney  refused  to  see  his 
order,  said  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  any  authority,  and 
that  Mr.  Therry  must  leave  the  ship.  He  did  not,  however, 
leave  the  ship,  but  walked  towards  the  cuddy;  and  Major 
Arney  called  for  a  file  of  the  guard  to  remove  him  from  the 
vessel,  saying  that  he  had  behaved  improperly  in  coming  on 

8  Austral  Light,  Feb.,  1917. 


216  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

board  before  without  an  order,  that  the  sentry  ought  to  have 
fired  into  him,  and  that  had  he  been  the  sentry  he  would  have 
done  so.  Mr.  Therry  told  Major  Arney  that  his  conduct  was 
ungentlemanly,  and  Major  Arney  said  that,  were  it  not  for  his 
coat,  he  would  thrash  him ;  it  seems  also  that  Mr.  Therry  said 
Major  Arney  had  taken  too  much  wine,  and  that  Major  Arney 

replied  Mr.  Therry  was  cracked Dr.  Booth  was  in  the 

cabin,  but  came  out  on  hearing  the  altercation,  which  was  car- 
ried on  in  loud  and  violent  tones ;  and  Mr.  Therry  handed  to 
him  his  permission  to  come  on  board  the  ship.  Dr  Booth 
consented  to  his  visiting  the  convicts  and  returned  into  the 
cabin. 

Much  more,  continues  the  magistrate,  was  said  by  both  par- 
ties. His  final  judgment  is  that  Major  Arney's  conduct  was 
unnecessarily  harsh  and  imperative,  while  Father  Therry  lost 
his  temper  and  was  extremely  incautious — a  verdict  which  cer- 
tainly does  not  seem  over-severe  on  the  Major. 

These  examples,  a  few  out  of  many  chronicled  in  the 
"Therry  Papers,"  illustrate  the  injustice  of  the  Government 
system.  The  rights  of  convicts  could  be  vindicated  only  by  the 
forceful  and  consistent  exposition  of  individual  abuses.  Father 
Therry  never  ceased  his  appeals  for  justice. s  A  refusal  of 
admittance  was  not  sufficient  to  prevent  his  ministering  to  the 
Catholic  prisoners.  There  was  a  back  door  to  every  institu- 
tion; frequently  a  soldier  was  accessible  to  monetary  bribes; 
and  few  could  withstand  for  long  his  eloquent  and  sometimes 
abusive  appeals. 

Otherwise  the  Church  was  making  good  progress.  The 
country  districts  were  well  attended  to  by  the  assistant  priests ; 
so  much  so  that  the  Launceston  Catholics  wrote  to  Father 
Therry  surreptitiously,  asking  him  to  command  Father  Cot- 
ham  to  be  less  reckless  of  his  health  in  the  discharge  of  his 
heavy  duties.  As  for  Father  Therry  himself,  the  constant 
work,  entailing  long  journeys  in  every  kind  of  weather,  and 
the  grievances  of  orphans  and  convicts,  were  leaving  their 
mark  upon  his  hardy  system.  His  health  broke  down.  A 
fresh  despondency  came  upon  him.     He  submitted  to  an  ope- 

8  Cf .  also  Appendix  A,  Nos.  35,  42,  45. 


■J. 


2  ^ 

pi     -a 


FATHER    PETIT-JEAN  217 

ration,  and  with  the  return  of  health  came  increased  interest 
in  the  affairs  of  the  island.  In  July,  1841,  Father  Therry 
visited  Sydney  on  business  matters,  and  on  his  return  called 
at  Port  Phillip,  where  he  remained  for  some  time  before  re- 
turning to  Launceston. 

Many  very  interesting  testimonies  to  his  work  are  extant, 
two  of  which  are  from  the  pen  of  the  saintly  Marist  mission- 
ary in  New  Zealand,  Jean  Baptist  Petit- Jean.  On  15  May, 
1S43,  writing  in  broken  English  to  Father  Therry  in  order  to 
introduce  one  of  his  parishioners,  he  said: — 

I  cannot  refrain  myself  from  expressing  you  particularly 
the  feelings  of  the  special  gratitude  of  my  friends,  the  French 
priests  to  whom  you  gave  lately  so  generous  a  hospitality.  They 
will,  nor  I  will  never  forget  your  kindness,  liberality  and  some 
things  that  I  cannot  say  particularly  in  a  tongue  that  is  not 
mine.  May  the  Almighty  God  reward  you  in  the  centuple  for 
all  the  exertions  of  your  noble  charity. 

Another  letter  from  the  same  missionary  refers  to  a  pro- 
ject of  vast  importance.  Father  Therry  had  successfully  laid 
the  foundations  of  the  Church  in  Australia,  and  was 
anxious  to  extend  its  influence  still  further.  The  islands  of 
the  Pacific  with  their  vast  populations,  still  in  the  darkness  of 
paganism,  were  calling  to  him  in  1843,  Just  as  the  pastorless 
faithful  of  Australia  called  in  1819.  He  asks  Father  Petit- 
Jean's  advice  about  interesting  the  Society  of  the  Propagation 
of  the  Faith  in  the  work  of  raising  a  native  priesthood  in  Aus- 
tralia for  the  conversion  of  the  Pacific  Islands.  He  has  hopes  of 
inducing  the  Jesuit  Fathers  to  do  the  same  work.  Father 
Petit- Jean  is  in  full  accord  with  his  aspirations.   He  writes : — 

Very  Reverend  Sir, 

Your  letter  of  the  31st  October  caused  me  the 
greatest  delight.  Your  project  appears  to  me  pregnant  with 
great  fruits  of  salvation  for  the  poor  souls.  I  knew  your  noble 
offer  before  but  only  in  a  confuse  manner.  Nothing  was  more 
wise  than  to  aspire  to  make  New  South  Wales  the  siege  of 
a  little  propaganda.  Even  the  appointment  of  an  Archbishop 
with  the  Sacred  Pallium  in  the  capital  of  that  Colony  show 
that  there  was  something  prophetical  in  your  past  views  and 
hopes. 


19 


218  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

I  must  confess  you  ingenuously  that  in  concert  with  a 
respectable  clergyman  the  Rev.  Father  Brady,  I  spoke  of  a 
similar  project  to  the  Superior  of  our  humble  Society  in  a 
letter  that  I  wrote  about  one  year  ago  from  Sydney.  The  idea 
that  was  more  pleasing  for  me  was  that  immediately  and  with- 
out inconvenience  some  good  young  men  of  families  little  dis- 
graced till  now  could  be  prepared  for  the  missions  of  the  nu- 
merous islands.  I  pray  to  God  with  all  my  heart  that  he  may 
bless  and  reward  your  good  exertions.  No  doubt  it  will  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  most  abundant  benediction.  I  regret  that  you  did 
not  send  a  copy  of  your  letter  for  the  late  commodore,  to  the 
central  committee  of  the  propagation  of  faith  in  Lyons,  they 
would  have  made  an  application  to  a  competent  ecclesiastical 
authority,  and  long  ago  you  had  had  an  answer.  I  will  take  care 
to  have  this  last  copy  to  be  sent  faithfully  to  Lyons  according 
to  your  intentions,  and  to  secure  so  important  a  correspondence, 
I  beg  to  suggest  you,  Very  Revd.  Sir  to  write  again,  about  the 
same  subject  to  the  same  central  committee  in  Lyons. 

By  selecting  or  suggesting  the  Society  of  Jesus  you  could 
not  make  a  better  choice,  however  I  fear  that  the  same  com- 
pany might  decline  to  accept  the  offer  for  the  present;  it  is 
said,  a  vaste  gate  is  opened  to  them  in  China,  and  they  have  no 
missions  established  in  these  our  seas.  I  hope  it  is  only  a 
panic  fear  and  we  may  see  soon  the  infatigable  and  always 
ready  Ignatius's  children  to  make  that  distant  field  to  flourish 
with  every  kind  of  virtue  but  particularly  to  kindle  the  Sacred 

flame  of  zeal.  _  ^       _.  T 

J.  Bap.  Petit  jean. 

The  project  for  the  islands  did  not  mature.  But  Father 
Therry  must  have  found  full  employment  for  his  zeal  in  Tas- 
mania itself.  Considering  the  few  years  he  had  spent  there, 
the  healthy  progress  made  by  the  Church  seems  incredible. 
The  establishment  of  various  ecclesiastical  societies,  e.g.,  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  and  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  the  organizations 
for  Total  Abstinence,  the  Catholic  Laymen's  Defence  unions, 
point  to  the  vitality  of  his  newly  reorganized  church.  He  had 
often  lamented  the  inadequate  supply  of  prayer  books  for  the 
people  and  convicts;  as  a  remedy  he  drew  up  in  1843  an 
elaborate  plan  of  a  prayer  book,  and  a  "Compendium  History 
of  the  New  Testament/'  The  contract  for  printing  had  been 
let  to  William  Piatt,  when  Bishop  Willson's  arrival  took  the 
matter  out  of  his  control. 


TASMANIA   A    DIOCESE  219 

The  suggestion  made  by  Father  Therry  before  Dr.  Fold- 
ing's departure  for  Europe,  advising  the  formation  of  Tas- 
mania into  a  separate  diocese,  was  acted  upon.  Dr.9  Ulla- 
thorne  had  clearly  shown  to  Rome  the  necessity  for  such  an 
appointment ;  and  on  several  occasions  when  the  situation  was 
discussed,  Dr.  Polding  expressed  his  desire  that  Dr.  Ullathorne 
should  be  appointed.  But  when  Dr.  Ullathorne  saw  a  list  of 
the  names  recommended  by  the  Bishop,  and  found  his  own 
name  at  the  head  of  the  list,  he  would  not  consent.10 

In  his  Autobiography  it  is  stated  that  the  obstacle  was  the 
presence  of  Father  Therry: — n 

On  our  return  to  England  we  [Dr.  Polding  and  himself] 
separated,  each  on  our  own  way.  Some  letters  passed  between 
us  on  my  proposed  appointment  to  the  Bishopric  of  Hobart 
Town,  to  which  I  was  as  averse  as  ever;  and  even  more  so, 
because  I  felt  that,  good  priest  as  he  was,  as  Father  Therry 
had  been  placed  as  Vicar  in  Van  Diemen's  Land,  I  should  have 
the  same  difficulties  to  meet  there  as  I  had  encountered  on 
my  first  arrival  in  Sydney,  owing  to  his  want  of  management 
in  temporal  affairs.  The  result  was  that  I  received  a  letter 
from  the  Bishop  informing  me  that  our  relations  were  at  an 
end. 

Dr.  Ullathorne  had  suffered  much  in  Australia.  He  was 
tired  of  it  all.  As  Vicar-General  he  had,  to  spare  the  person 
o?  the  Bishop,  borne  on  his  own  shoulders  the  blows  of  the 
fight.  He  wished  to  retire  to  his  monastery.  What  Dr.  Pold- 
ing thought  of  the  contemplated  appointment  to  Hobart  can  be 
seen  from  his  willingness  to  resign  the  Archbishopric  of  Syd- 
ney, and  accept  the  suffragan  see  of  Van  Diemen's  Land. 
"Were  I  to  follow  my  own  inclination,"  he  said,  "I  would 
prefer  moving  to  Van  Diemen's  Land,  since  the  prisoners  are 
sent  there  and  not  to  N.S.W.  They  gave  me  my  vocation,  and 
to  their  instruction  I  feel  strongly  attached."12 

The  appointment  was  finally  made;  and  Dr.  Willson  be- 


8  He  had  received  his  doctorate  in  1837. 

10  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  1.,  485. 

11  P.  200. 

12  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11.,  9. 


19a 


220  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

came  the  first  Bishop  of  Hobart.  In  a  letter  from  Dr.  Polding, 
dated  May  4,  1843,  the  news  was  conveyed  officially  to  Father 
Therry : — 13 

My  dear  Vicar  General, 

Short  as  was  your  kind  favour  of  the  12th  last., 
which  only  reached  me  two  days  since,  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
happy  I  was  to  see  your  handwriting  once  more.  From  the 
pages  which  some  kind  friend  is  so  good  as  to  send  me,  I  per- 
ceive that  your  exertions  in  behalf  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  con- 
tinue unabated.  I  fear,  however,  the  general  depression  pre- 
vents the  obtaining  of  funds  very  readily.  My  subscription  of 
£500,  I  hope  to  transmit  in  part  at  least  very  soon.  At  present 
I  have  hard  work  to  keep  matters  straight.  My  house  is  full 
and,  I  think,  about  twenty  sit  down  to  dinner  every  day.  The 
Providence  of  God  favours  us  greatly  in  the  cheapness  of  pro- 
visions. In  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  I  trust,  I  shall  be  enabled 
to  accompany  the  missionaries  to  the  natives  in  the  interior. 
They  are  four  in  number.  I  have  three  Christian  Brothers  also 
residing  with  me  for  the  present. 

You  have  heard  of  course,  of  the  Rev.  Doctor  Willson 
having  been  appointed  by  the  Holy  See  to  the  recently-erected 
Bishopric  of  Hobart  Town.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  performing 
the  solemn  rite  of  his  Lordship's  consecration  in  Birmingham 
on  the  28th  of  October,  five  days  before  I  sailed.  The  Bishop 
did  not  suppose  he  could  leave  England  before  the  month  of 
March  or  April.  He  is  one  of  the  most  amiable  of  men — 
kindness  and  goodness  itself.  Until  the  period  of  his  arrival 
Van  Diemen's  Land  remains  under  my  jurisdiction,  and  con- 
sequently under  that  of  the  Vicar  General  by  me  appointed — 
that  is  yourself. 

I  am  in  daily  expectation  of  eight  bells  for  St.  Mary's; 
the  largest  weighs  nearly  30  cwt.  What  a  delightful  thing  it 
will  be  to  hear  the  Angelus  announced !  The  tower  I  will  set 
about,  and  also  the  lengthening  of  the  Metropolitan  Church 
so  soon  as  I  have  the  funds.  The  plan  of  the  tower,  which 
must  be  built  with  great  skill,  by  reason  of  the  continued 
vibration  of  the  bells,  I  shall  receive  very  shortly  from  Mr. 
Pugin,  the  celebrated  architect 

I  beg  my  kindest  regards  to  your  sister,  and  believe  me, 
Yours,  very  affectionately, 

A  John  Bede, 
Archbishop  of  Sydney. 

13  From  the  Manlv  Archives. 


BISHOP   WILLSON    APPOINTED  221 

After  this  announcement,  followed  by  the  news  that  Dr. 
Willson  was  already  on  his  way  to  the  new  diocese,  Father 
Therry  refrained  from  beginning  any  new  work.  His  letters 
show  that  he  looked  forward  with  eagerness  to  a  new  era  for 
the  Church  in  Tasmania.  The  preparations  he  made  for  the 
reception  of  the  Bishop  were  elaborate  and  warm-hearted. 
He  could  not  foresee  the  trials  and  controversies  that  were 
now  about  to  begin. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

All  is  the  fear,  and  nothing  is  the  love; 
As  little  is  the  wisdom,  where  the  flight 
So   runs  against  all   reason. 

— Shakespeare. 

Many  biographies  fail  because  of  the  secretiveness  of  the 
biographer.  They  depict  something  that  resembles  an  incar- 
nate angel:  behind  their  nattering  portrait  the  real  man  re- 
mains hidden  and  unknown.  It  is  the  chiaroscuro  that  makes 
the  picture,  the  contrasts  that  reveal  the  man.  If  unpleasant 
facts  are  to  be  omitted  or  relegated  to  a  footnote,  biography, 
like  history,  forfeits  veracity  and  loses  value. 

So  far,  it  is  hoped,  the  shadows  as  well  as  the  lights  of 
Father  Therry's  story  have  been  faithfully  set  forth,  but  the 
shadows  have  not  been  deep.  A  period  in  his  life  has  now 
been  reached  in  which  the  shadows  grow  dark  indeed.  The 
obstinacy  commendable  in  his  dealings  with  Governor  Darling 
and  the  enemies  of  the  Church,  and  less  meritorious  in  those 
with  Father  Power  and  Dr.  Ullathorne,  was  in  Tasmania  dis- 
played overmuch  on  behalf  of  what  he  deemed  a  righteous 
cause,  and  obscured  his  outlook  upon  all  other  considerations 
for  thirteen  years. 

Robert  William  Willson,  the  first  Bishop  of  Hobart,  was 
consecrated  on  27  October,  1842,  by  Archbishop  Polding.  Dr. 
Ullathorne,  who  knew  him  well,  thus  described  him: — * 

Among  the  distinguished  ecclesiastics  whom  England  has 
produced  in  recent  times  there  is  one  whose  name  is  held  in 
benediction  at  both  extremities  of  the  world,  and  whose 
memory  ought  not  to  be  left  to  the  shadows  of  a  vanishing 
tradition.  Robert  William  Willson,  a  man  of  singular  human- 
ity and  benevolence,  was  the  founder  of  the  Catholic  Church 
in  Nottingham,  the  Episcopal  founder  of  the  Church  in  Tas- 
mania, the  effectual  reformer  of  the  management  of  deported 
criminals  in  our  penal  settlements ;  a  most  influential  reformer 

1  Memoir   of   Bishop    Willson,   quoted    in   Benedictine   Pioneers   in 
Australia,  11.,  44-5- 

222 


BISHOP    WILLSON'S    CHARACTER  223 

of  lunatic  asylums  and  their  management,  as  well  in  England 
as  in  Australia;  and  the  man  who  through  his  influence  with 
the  Imperial  and  Colonial  Governments,  caused  the  breaking 
up  of  the  horrible  penal  settlement  in  Norfolk  Island.  .  .  .  No 
one  could  come  into  Father  Willson's  presence  without  being 
made  sensible  of  his  calm,  dignified  and  self-possessed  man- 
ners. Of  middle  stature  and  somewhat  portly,  he  had  led 
too  active  a  life  to  become  a  ripe  scholar;  but  he  was  a  man 
of  keen  observation,  unusual  good  sense,  and  great  knowledge 
of  human  nature.  His  lower  features  were  squarely  set,  and 
indicated  strength  of  will ;  his  mouth  was  firm,  yet  gentle  in 
its  lines;  his  grey  eyes  vivid  under  their  strongly  marked 
brows;  but  the  imposing  feature  of  his  countenance  was  his 
brow.  Square  and  well  advanced  above  the  eyes,  the  upper 
part  presented  an  extraordinary  development,  which  rose  like 
a  small,  second  brow  upon  the  first.  Herbert's  portrait  of  him, 
at  Oscott,  presents  a  generally  good  likeness,  but  by  placing 
the  mitre  on  his  head  the  artist  has  concealed  this  remarkable 
formation,  and  has  thus  deprived  his  features  of  their  crown- 
ing expression.  Spurzheim  was  lecturing  on  phrenology  in  the 
Town  Hall  of  Nottingham  when  Father  Willson  came  in, 
removing  his  hat  as  he  entered.  The  celebrated  phrenologist 
interrupted  his  lecture  and  asked:  "Who  is  that  gentleman? 
He  has  the  largest  development  of  benevolence  that  I  ever  saw 
on  a  human  head." 

If  the  phrenologist  had  examined  the  visitor  more  minutely, 
he  might  have  found  another  cranial  development  indicative 
of  a  colossal  determination,  incapable  of  compromise. 

The  new  Bishop  at  first  refused  the  appointment  to  the 
see  of  Hobart,  and  later  accepted  it  only  "under  obedience.,, 
His  reason  for  refusal  was  the  same  as  Dr.  Ullathorne's — the 
impossibility  (in  Dr.  Ullathorne's  view)  of  working  the  Tas- 
manian  diocese  whilst  Father  Therry  remained  in  the  island. 
"Before  Bishop  Willson  consented  to  be  consecrated,"  Dr. 
Ullathorne  writes,2  "it  was  arranged  that  the  Archbishop  of 
Sydney  should  meet  him  at  my  house,  for  the  purpose  of 
settling  certain  affairs,  in  which  I  was  requested  to  arbitrate 
between  them,  should  it  become  needful.  The  principal  point 
insisted  upon  was  that  Father  Therry  should  be  recalled  from 

9  Autobiography,  p.  224. 


224  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Hobart  Town  before  the  Bishop's  arrival.  This  was  agreed  to, 
but  unfortunately  was  not  done,  which  occasioned  the  Bishop 
many  and  long  troubles;  for  although  Father  Therry  was  a 
good  man,  he  was  not  a  man  of  business." 

The  Bishop  had  also  been  assured  by  Dr.  Polding — 
under  a  misapprehension — that  the  Church  in  Tasmania  was 
unencumbered  by  debt.  The  way  was  thus  paved  for  great 
dissensions. 

Dr.  Willson  postponed  his  departure  from  Europe  for 
almost  two  years.  During  this  time  Father  Therry  continued 
the  construction  of  buildings  already  begun,  thereby  increas- 
ing the  debt  which  was  supposed  to  be  non-existent. 
The  Bishop  reached  Hobart  on  n  May,  1844,  whilst 
Father  Therry  was  hearing  confessions,  and  next  day 
took  possession  of  his  diocese  at  a  Solemn  High  Mass.  Father 
Therry,  in  his  capacity  as  Vicar  General,  welcomed  the 
Bishop,  and  forecasted  a  glorious  future  for  the  diocese  of 
Hobart.  But  his  hopes  were  soon  shattered.  The  Bishop  had 
come  with  preconceived  notions  concerning  him ;  had  brought 
other  priests  with  him ;  and  from  their  number  selected  Father 
William  Hall  to  supersede  the  old  Vicar  General.  The  choice 
was  injudicious.  Father  Hall  was  not  the  right  man  for  so 
responsible  a  position.  His  antagonism  towards  Father  Therry 
was  marked;  whenever  the  Bishop  softened  towards  the  old 
missionary,  Father  Hall  was  ready  to  bring  fresh  reasons  for 
a  re-hardening.  Moreover,  the  Bishop  knew  nothing  of  his 
diocese.  He  should  have  acted  slowly,  and  learned  what  he 
could  from  one  who  had  built  up  the  infant  mission,  now  a 
diocese,  before  dispensing  with  his  services.  Father  Hall  knew 
nothing  of  Tasmania;  he  failed  from  the  start,  because  he 
thought  he  knew  all. 

The  removal  from  the  office  of  Vicar  General  was  a  sore 
blow  to  Father  Therry.  He  would  not  have  hesitated  to  retire 
from  the  position,  had  he  not  so  pledged  himself  that  removal 
was  of  grave  concern.  He  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  from 
Government  an  extra  salary  for  the  position  of  Vicar  Gene- 
ral, and  the  emoluments  (£600  per  annum)  now  attached  to 


THE    DEBT    ON    ST.    JOSEPH'S  225 

the  office  he  had  intended  to  use  in  reducing  the  debts  on 
Church  property.  The  position  was  made  worse  by  the  fact 
that,  with  two  trustees,  he  had  made  himself  personally  re- 
sponsible for  the  borrowed  and  already  expended  moneys. 

Father  Therry  told  the  Bishop  that  the  trustees,  exclud- 
ing himself,  were  responsible  for  debts  on  the  Church  prop- 
erty to  the  amount  of  £2,600 ;  and  there  was  a  further  sum  of 
£700  due  to  himself,  which  he  had  advanced  when  promissory 
notes  and  loans  were  not  forthcoming.  The  Bishop  refused  to 
acknowledge  any  such  debts.  He  had  been  told  that  the  diocese 
was  unencumbered;  as  far  as  he  was  concerned  it  would 
remain  so.  The  trustees  had  better  look  after  themselves. 
Father  Therry  could  not  understand  the  attitude  adopted.  It 
was  just  and  reasonable  that  a  Bishop  coming  into  a  diocese 
should  acknowledge  the  Church  debts  of  his  predecessor. 
There  was  no  precedent  to  justify  the  refusal.  The  Bishop 
asked  for  the  deeds  of  the  ecclesiastical  property  in  Hobart; 
but  Father  Therry  regarded  himself  as  bound  in  conscience  to 
protect  the  rights  of  the  trustees,  and  refused  to  hand  them 
over.  Elaborate  details  of  money  spent  on  St.  Joseph's  Church 
and  land,  St.  Mary's  land,  the  schools  and  presbytery,  were 
drawn  up,  and  submitted  on  forty  foolscap  pages.  The  state- 
ment showed  that  considerable  sums  had  been  advanced  by 
Messrs.  Regan  and  Insley,  and  that  these  gentlemen,  with 
Father  Therry,  had  given  their  guarantee  for  all  credits  ad- 
vanced in  connection  with  the  various  Church  buildings.  These 
trustees  would  continue  to  be  held  responsible  to  the  creditors, 
many  of  whom  were  already  pressing  for  payment  when  the 
insecurity  of  the  guarantees  became  known.  Consequently 
Father  Therry  demanded  the  Bishop's  promise  to  appoint  new 
trustees,  who  would  make  themselves  responsible  for  just 
debts  already  incurred.  The  situation  took  on  a  new  interest. 
Legally,  the  land  and  buildings  were  in  the  possession  of  the 
trustees;  canonically,  the  Bishop  was  master.  His  right  to 
unrestricted  use  of  the  buildings  was  never  denied ;  if  he  had 
only  taken  over  the  responsibility  of  the  debts,  the  trustees 
would  willingly  have  transferred  their  legal  rights. 


226  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Bishop  Willson  decided  to  place  the  matter  in  the  hands 
of  the  Archbishop  of  Sydney.  On  10  August,  1844,  he  em- 
barked for  Sydney  to  be  present  at  the  consecration  of  the 
Bishop  of  Adelaide;  whilst  in  Sydney  he  put  the  case  before 
the  Archbishop,  who  returned  with  him  to  Hobart,  arriving 
there  on  September  25.  All  the  interested  parties  assembled 
in  St.  Joseph's  before  the  Archbishop  and  Father  McEncroe. 
The  result  was  unsatisfactory.  Dr.  Willson  demanded  an  im- 
mediate surrender  of  the  deeds,  and  would  take  no  responsi- 
bility, either  moral  or  legal,  for  the  payment  of  the  debts. 
Father  Therry  and  the  other  trustees  refused  to  hand  over  the 
deeds  without  a  sufficient  guarantee.  But  Dr.  Polding  was 
not  disheartened.  Long  ago  he  had  learned  the  way  to  deal 
with  Father  Therry ;  he  hastened  to  him,  and  asked  him  "as  a 
favour"  for  the  documents.  Father  Therry  unhesitatingly  sur- 
rendered to  the  Archbishop  of  Sydney  his  only  security  for 
redress.  Dr.  Polding  was  overjoyed;  but  it  was  his  duty  to 
reprimand  his  subject,  and  require  some  amends  for  the  treat- 
ment meted  out  to  one  of  his  Suffragans.  He  addressed  Father 
Therry  in  severe  language : — 

Dear  Father  Therry. 

Your  conduct  towards  the  Bishop  on  and  since 
his  arrival,  I  perceive  with  great  regret,  has  produced  an  im- 
pression on  the  mind  of  his  Lordship,  an  impression  which 
entirely  precludes  the  hope  of  bringing  matters  to  the  con- 
clusion I  so  much  desired.  You  are  not,  you  cannot  be  con- 
scious how  far  you  have  gone  beyond  the  propriety  of  conduct 
which  ought  ever  to  distinguish  the  intercourse  between  the 
Priest  and  Bishop.  Why  were  not  the  papers  now  put  into  my 
hands  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Bishop  on  his  arrival?  You 
had  no  right  over  them  after  your  authority  as  Vicar  General 
ceased,  and  it  ceased  the  moment  the  Bishop  reached  the  shore. 
Your  conduct  in  this  matter  the  Bishop  deems  unbecoming 
your  station  and  insulting  to  himself.  Andhow  shall  I  express 
my  deep  sorrow  that  he,  my  Vicar  General,  whom  I  had  re- 
quested to  do  all  in  his  power  to  render  the  arrival  of  the 
Bishop  so  pleasant  that  he  should  in  some  sort  feel  compen- 
sation for  all  he  had  relinquished,  should  have  been  so  unfor- 
tunate as  (to  use  the  least  harsh  word,  and  one  scarcely  appro- 


j£,/6t*y   //y&4 


.//*?J>4S~- 


C^//^^L/^u;_ 


LETTER    FROM    ARCHBISHOP    POLDING,    r<>    BUSINESS    MATTERS, 
ADMINISTERING  A  GENTLE  REBUKE 


7 


s&WU**,  $fcdk*?^eA^  ^^^c^>^^  /?#/^/- 

&^£^^  ^^^^1-  +^'*£$*&#<>  <<^^ 


7  K) 


FATHER   THERRY    REBUKED  227 

priate)  to  render  that  arrival  in  every  respect  distressing — a 
circumstance  to  be  by  him  remembered  with  regret?  In  1842 
you  informed  me  that  the  Church  was  unencumbered  with 
debt ;  in  1844  upwards  of  £3000  are  due  on  St.  Joseph's  Church 
alone.  And  yet  no  apology  or  explanation,  no  desire  on  your 
part  to  alleviate  the  misfortunes  you  have  brought  on  an  infant 
Church !  Again,  the  manner  you  have  adopted  with  the 
trusteeships  is  in  the  highest  degree  culpable.  In  an  examina- 
tion of  conscience  now  before  me,  under  the  eighth  command- 
ment is  asked,  "Have  you  been  guilty  of  negligence  in  securing 
or  administering  trusts  confided  to  your  care  ?  Has  any  actual 
loss  resulted?  To  what  extent?  Have  you  been  negligent  in 
the  administration  of  property  entrusted  to  you?  If  so,  have 
others  suffered?  To  what  extent?"  The  trustees  selected  by 
you  are  in  fact,  no  trustees.    Is  there  a  deed  of  trust  signed 

by  them,  to  constitute  them  legal  trustees? Debt  again 

on  the  Launceston  Church !  I  assure  you,  your  conduct  gives 
me  great  pain,  I  am  humbled  to  the  very  dust,  when  I  think 
how  one  in  whom  I  placed  so  much  confidence  has  brought 
himself  into  a  position  which  appears  to  me  discreditable.  An 
apology  to  the  Bishop  of  Hobart  Town,  most  ample  and  in  the 
manner  he  may  require,  you  are  in  justice  bound  to  make.  And 
you  must  feel  sensible  that,  until  this  be  done,  I  cannot  con- 
scientiously permit  you  to  exercise  any  clerical  functions  within 
my  own  jurisdiction,  in  case  you  contemplate  a  return  to 
N.S.W. 

May  God  grant  you  His  Holy  Grace  and  enable  you  to  ful- 
fil that  obligation  which  it  has  been  my  duty  to  insist  upon,  is 
the  earnest  prayer  of  your  faithful  and  afflicted  servant. 

►J<  J.   B.   POLDING. 

The  broken-hearted  Archbishop  had  not,  we  must  admit, 
well  analysed  the  situation.  He  rightly  blamed  Father  Therry 
for  unbusinesslike  methods  and  his  habit  of  getting  hope- 
lessly into  debt.  But  the  debt  was  a  fact,  whether  just  or  un- 
just; certain  men  were  responsible  for  large  sums  of  money 
used  by  the  Church;  must  these  men  suffer  considerably  for 
their  good  intentions?  The  results  of  Dr.  Polding's  action 
were  so  regrettable  that  they  must  be  described  in  his  own 
language.  In  a  letter  of  12  March,  1845,  to  Father  Heptonstall 
he  says : — 3 

3  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11. ,  107  sqq. 


228  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

I  lost  no  time  in  setting  about  business.  Therry  came  to 
meet  us.  I  went  home  with  him  from  the  Bishop's  house  and 
requested  he  would  give  whatever  papers  etc.,  belonged  to  the 
Mission.  These  he  instantly  gave  up.  The  accounts  of  the 
Church  and  some  others  were  not  prepared,  but  these  in  due 
course  were  to  be  delivered.  I  took  them  back  with  me  and 
deposited  them  in  the  Bishop's  house,  and  informed  [him] 
that  I  had  every  hope  that  all  would  be  amicably  arranged. 
The  next  day  I  was  engaged  in  assorting  the  papers  before 
presentation  to  the  Bishop.  In  assorting  them  I  met  with  a 
Will  in  which  property  was  bequeathed  to  the  Bishop.  Think- 
ing that  this  ought  to  be  forthwith  transferred  to  his  hands, 
when  for  some  cause  he  came  to  my  room  in  his  house,  about 
two  o'clock,  I  mentioned  this  circumstance  of  the  Will  and 
presented  it  to  him.  He  took  it  in  his  hands,  put  it  again  on 
the  table,  and  then  broke  out  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  McEncroe, 
that  I  was  only  heaping  insult  upon  insult,  that  I  had  no  right 
to  meddle  with  the  temporal  matters  of  his  Diocese,  that  he 
knew  well  how  far  he  was  bound  in  his  obedience  to  me  in 
spiritual  things,  and  so  far  he  would  obey ;  that  he  would  never 
pay  one  farthing  of  the  £3000,  and  a  good  deal  more  to  the 
same  effect.  His  Lordship  was  much  excited  and  forcibly 
brought  to  my  mind  a  remark  to  which  I  should  have  paid  much 
more  attention  than  I  did.  Do  you  recollect  travelling  with  Mr. 
Hulme  from  Brussels  in  a  third  rate  carriage?  I  was  praising 
Dr.  Willson's  mildness  and  so  forth,  and  he  observed:  "Stop 
till  something  excites  him,  and  you  will  see  Vesuvius  in  a 
blaze."  An  apparently  mild  man  in  a  passion  is,  to  me,  of  all 
things  the  most  awful.  Well,  after  this  explosion,  Mr.  McEn- 
croe and  myself  agreed  that  good  to  be  done  there  was  none.  I 
did  intend  to  propose  to  have  the  buildings  valued  and  whatever 
was  over  and  above  their  just  value  to  be  deemed  inconsider- 
ately expended  and  to  persuade  Therry  to  pay  that  sum  out  of 
his  own  means.  This  was  much  in  the  spirit  of  what  the  Bishop 
himself  had  proposed.  Then  by  the  subscriptions  of  the  people, 
Government  aid  (for  the  secretary  told  me  the  Government 
would  consider  favourably  our  application  for  aid),  and  the 
sum  which  the  Bishop  proposed  to  expend  in  erecting  a  wooden 
church  if  the  business  could  not  be  amicably  arranged,  I  do 
not  doubt  the  greater  part  of  the  debt  would  be  taken  up. 
This,  however,  put  a  stop  to  the  business.  I  had  resolved  to 
leave  Hobart  Town  instantly.  However,  a  regard  for  decorum 
forbade  this,  and  cooler  reflection  suggested  the  propriety  of 
doing  all  I  could  to  repair  the  past  and  to  facilitate  the  future 
for  the  Bishop. 


SURRENDER   OF   THE   TRUSTEES  229 

Wherefore,  the  next  morning  I  requested  Mr.  Therry  and 
his  co-trustees  to  meet  me  in  the  sacristy  of  the  Church.  I  ex- 
plained to  them  how  reprehensible  their  conduct  had  been  in 
demurring  to  surrender  to  the  Bishop  the  writings,  etc.,  be- 
longing to  the  Church.  They  replied  they  did  not  in  the 
spirit  of  disobedience,  but  merely  as  a  means  of  self-defence ; 
gladly  would  they  surrender  the  property  if  they  could  be 
relieved  from  the  responsibility.  As  they  were  held  legally  re- 
ponsible  it  came  to  this:  "are  you  then  prepared  to  sell  the 
Church  and  the  land,  to  liquidate  the  debt?"  They  replied, 
"God  forbid,  they  would  rather  perish,  one  and  all."  "Well, 
then,"  I  observed,  "of  what  use  is  your  having  all  the  odium 
of  resisting  lawful  authority,  without  any  earthly  advantage?" 
In  fine,  I  obtained  from  Therry  the  transfer  of  the  land  to  the 
Bishop,  and  a  declaration  that  they  gave  up  everything  what- 
soever into  his  hands  whilst  they  acknowledged  that  they  were 
legally  responsible.  This  done,  I  required  them  furthermore  in 
my  presence  and  that  of  Mr.  McEncroe,  and  of  Mr.  Hall,  Dr. 
Willson's  V.G.,  to  ask  pardon  on  their  bended  knees,  for  having 
resisted  in  any  way  or  demurred  to  fulfil  their  duty  in  surrend- 
ering unqualifiedly  the  Church  property ;  that  they  now  did  so 
and  considered  themselves  alone  legally  responsible.  Now  I 
did  expect  certainly  when  this  had  been  done,  that  [if]  the 
Bishop  would  have  cordially  set  to  work  and  fby]  every  means 
exerted  to  extricate  the  Church  from  its  difficulties,  before 
this  she  would  have  been  afloat.  In  this  I  have  been  grievously 
disappointed. 

Since  my  departure  from  Hobart  Town  nothing  has  been 
done:  the  same  game  of  reports  and  rumours  bandied  about 
and  acted  upon ;  whilst  in  addition  to  the  speech  made  to  me 
orally,  Dr.  Willson  has  written  to  me  to  say  that  he  has  no 
confidence  in  me,  that  he  formally  and  deliberately  renounced 
my  friendship,  that  I  have  forfeited  my  title  to  be  considered  a 
just  and  honourable  man,  at  least  he  puts  a  speech  into  my 
mouth  which  expresses  this  sentiment.  In  a  preceding  letter 
he  had  intimated  that  the  entire  business  was  mysterious.  Of 
course,  our  relations  are  much  altered,  and  only  myself  can  tell 
how  distinctly  the  hand  of  God  may  be  seen  in  this  business, 
and  how  justly  I  have  been  punished  by  being  taken  in  the 
net  of  my  own  cunning. 

Since  I  commenced  this  letter,  Dr.  Willson  has  written  to 
me  to  disown  the  expressions  of  my  having  heaped  insult  upon 
insult :  that  he  intended  in  this  to  refer  to  Mr.  Therry.  To  the 
rest  he  does  not  allude.  I  ought  to  have  added,  that  he  also  said 


20 


230  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

on  the  occasion  alluded  to,  that  he  had  his  advisers  who  were 
competent  to  give  him  advice,  and  by  their  counsel  he  zvould 
abide.  For  that  expression  he  craves  forgiveness,  and  dis- 
avows any  intention  to  offend.  This  is,  however,  a  very  un- 
pleasant state.  How  all  will  end  I  know  not.  If  Wilson  of 
Downside  had  been  with  me,  or  Dr.  Ullathorne,  this  would 
not  have  happened.  Ten  months  and  more  have  elapsed — 
nothing  done.  Therry  has  been  up  here  for  the  last  three 
weeks,  and  a  subscription  has  been  raised  to  aid  in  payment  of 
debt.  It  has  reached  £170,  but  what  is  this  to  the  bulk?  In 
the  meanwhile,  the  people  here  are  beginning  to  talk  and  can- 
vass this  unfortunate  business ;  parties  are  again  forming 
which  we  had  well-nigh  extinguished.  The  utmost  prudence 
is  required  to  steer  aright.  If  I  am  kind  to  Therry,  Dr.  Willson 
will  misinterpret  it  as  upholding  him  in  opposition;  if  I  am 
not,  all  my  people  will  lose  confidence  in  me.  Of  a  surety  I 
am  in  difficulties.  However  unpleasant,  Dr.  Willson  ought  at 
once  to  have  taken  the  responsibilities,  as  I  did.  I  left  this 
Mission  free  from  debt ;  when  I  returned,  owing  to  the  causes 
to  which  I  have  alluded  in  the  beginning  of  this  letter,4  when 
I  returned,  I  found  debt  to  upwards  of  £4000.  I  had  just  as 
much  right  to  repudiate  this,  I  conceive,  as  Dr.  Willson  to  re- 
fuse the  debt  of  Hobart  Town.  Had  I  done  so,  the  confidence 
of  the  people  in  me  would  have  been  forfeited,  and  justly,  for 
ever.  If  Therry  has  incurred  this  debt,  be  it  remembered  that 
he  has  doubled  the  income  of  the  Bishop,  who  enjoys,  includ- 
ing perquisites.  £700  per  annum — £200  more  than  myself. 
Erecting  the  Church,  he  has  given  a  title  to  an  Incumbent  who 
receives  from  Government  £230  per  annum ;  whilst  Bench 
Rents  and  other  perquisites  are  quite  sufficient  to  make  the 
sum  as  much  again.  With  an  income  of  £1100  per  annum,  to 
make  so  much  fuss  about  £3000,  with  all  the  means  extra  to 
pay  it  off,  does  appear  to  me  puerile.  Therry  has  also  secured 
six  acres  of  valuable  land  to  the  Church,  which  Conolly's 
relatives  might  have  very  troublesomely  disputed.  He  has 
made  to  himself  a  good  name  with  the  Government;  he  has 
raised  a  zeal  amongst  the  people;  and  even  as  here,  so  there 
has  he  pioneered,  roughly  it  is  true,  but  still  effectually.  Add 
to  this — a  teetotaller,  and  during  the  twenty  years  and  up- 
wards he  has  laboured  on  these  Missions,  not  a  shadow  of 
suspicion  has  passed  over  his  moral  character.  He  is  eccentric ; 
fond  of  notoriety,  having  lived  half  his  life  in  the  eye  of  the 

4  The  financial  crisis  of  1842. 


THE    RIGHT    REVEREND    ROBERT    WILLSON,    D.D.,    FIRST    BISHOP    OF 

HOBART 


To  face  p.   230 


FATHER   THERRY    SUSPENDED  231 

public;  a^bad  manager  of  money  matters,  though  he  prides 
himself  on  this  head.  I  think  I  have  fairly  held  the  balance 
in  his  regard,  and  stated  faithfully  the  case. 

►Rf.B.P. 

This  estimate  of  Father  Therry's  character  and  work  may 
usefully  be  compared  with  those  previously  quoted  from  Dr. 
Ullathorne. 

Although,  as  Dr.  Polding  says,  the  Bishop  of  Tasmania 
formally  withdrew  some  of  the  most  offensive  of  his  expres- 
sions, the  breach  was  never  healed,  and  the  work  of  two  men 
of  noble  character,  each  trusted  and  revered  in  his  own  dio- 
cese, was  hampered  by  the  continual  estrangement.  As  for 
Father  Therry — for  whom  Dr.  Polding  had  suggested  "some 
honorary  post  .  .  .  thus  .to  reward  his  zeal  and  long 
services  as  Vicar  General,  and  to  conciliate  his  adherents" — 
Bishop  Willson  suspended  him  from  all  clerical  duties,  and 
would  not  allow  him  to  say  Mass  even  in  his  own  house. 

Many  endeavours  were,  of  course,  made  to  settle  the  finan- 
cial dispute.  In  March  Dr.  Polding  had  called  a  public 
meeting  in  Sydney  to  raise  funds  for  this  purpose,  and 
a  sum  of  £115  had  been  immediately  subscribed,  £50  of 
it  donated  by  the  Archbishop.  An  address,  drawn  up 
at  this  meeting  and  presented  to  Father  Therry,  stated 
that  "we  cannot  endure  for  a  moment  the  reflection  that 
debts,  justly  contracted,  should  remain  unpaid — a  thing 
unheard  of  in  the  history  of  the  church.  We  recoil  at  the 
supposition  that  a  few  individuals  who  lent  the  influence 
of  their  names  and  property  as  trustees,  should  be  allowed  to 
suffer  pecuniary  loss  for  such  a  disinterested  act."  Father 
McEncroe,  also,  sent  a  word  of  encouragement:  "It  is  most 
certain  that  if  a  church  be  in  debt  and  has  at  the  same  time 
landed  property,  that  the  said  property  should  be  made 
available  to  pay  the  debt;  and  whoever  prevents  such  appro- 
priation is  answerable  for  the  consequences.  Your  case  brings 
to  mind  a  maxim  of  St.  Theresa,  that  'when  one  does  anything 
considerable  for  religion  or  for  the  service  of  God,  the  same 
good  God  rewards  the  individual  by  sending  him  some  heavy 


20a 


232  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

trial  or  cross,  but  in  his  own  good  time  will  send  relief  and 
consolation.'  This  should  encourage  you  in  your  present  try- 
ing position." 

The  subsequent  history  of  the  case  can  best  be  learned 
from  a  statement  sent  by  Father  Therry  to  Propaganda.  The 
report  is  lengthy  and  comprehensive,  and  his  statements  agree 
substantially  with  the  Bishop's  submissions  to  Rome : — 

Passing  for  the  present  many  matters  of  considerable 
importance  which  I  trust  will  be  explained  by  the  documents 
I  have  recently  sent  to  His  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Sydney, 
I  come  at  once  to  the  first  formal  agreement  that  was  signed 
by  the  Bishop  and  myself.  On  the  15th  August,  1845,  I  had  the 
honor  by  invitation  or  summons  of  an  interview  with  his  Lord- 
ship, when  after  a  discussion  of  more  than  three  hours  the 
following  memorandum  of  agreement  was  written  by  his 
Lordship  in  duplicate,  and  then  signed  by  us  both,  each  of  us 
retaining  an  autograph  copy: — 

Memorandum.  The  debt  is  stated  by  Mr.  Therry  to 
be  about  £3,300.  Mr.  Therry  will  take  the  responsibility  of 
£tooo. 

Application  to  be  made  to  the  Government  for  £700,  which 
Mr.  Therry  says  the  Catholics  have  a  legal  claim  to,  under 
the  provisions  of  the  Church  Extension  Act. 

Application  also  to  be  made  immediately  for  a  subscription 
to  liquidate  the  debt.  And  the  Church  land  in  Harrington  and 
Brisbane  Streets,  the  dwelling  house  and  School  Room  near 
St.  Joseph's  Church,  to  be  mortgaged  for  the  remaining  por- 
tion of  the  debt  if  the  Government  will  consent.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  Bishop  does  not  make  himself  responsible  in 
any  way  for  the  payment  of  the  debt. 

(Signed)  John  Joseph  Therry,  >J<R.  W.  Willson. 

In  the  agreement  it  was  stated  that  Father  Therry  would 
take  responsibility  for  £1000.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  which 
according  to  the  partisans  of  Father  Therry  was  "packed," 
"was  convened  by  private  circular,"  and  was  not  representa- 
tive of  the  Catholics  of  Tasmania,  there  was  a  discussion 
about  the  phrase  "Mr.  Therry  will  take  the  responsibility  of 
£1000."  Father  Therry  had  understood  it  to  mean  that  he 
would  be  allowed  to  collect  funds  to  that  amount.  He  told 
his  questioners  that  he  could  not  relinquish  his  claim  to  the 


EXAMPLE    OF    ST.    LOUIS  233 

amount:  "I  dare  not  sacrifice  the  rights  of  others  without 
their  consent;  I  was  willing  to  subscribe  £150,  and  to  engage 
to  obtain  through  my  influence  and  exertions  other  sums  by 
subscription  to  a  large  amount."  The  Bishop  thereupon 
wrote : — 5 

I,  of  course,  understood  it  precisely  in  the  sense  ....  that 
you  would  take  the  responsibility  of  that  sum,  totally  excluding 
Van  Diemen's  Land  ...  It  would  be  most  unwise  to  have 
rival  subscription  lists  at  the  same  time,  this  man  saying  "I 
am  of  Paul"  and  another  "I  am  of  Apollo,"  thus  creating 
divisions  and  heart-burnings,  where  we  may  hope  to  have 
peace  and  good-will. 

He  followed  this  up  on  the  25th  by  writing: — 

Rev.  Sir, 

You  will  be  pleased  to  take  notice  that,  as  far  as  my 
spiritual  authority  as  Bishop  empowers  me,  I  hereby  prohibit 
you  within  the  diocese  of  Hobart  Town  making  an  appeal  to 
the  public  under  any  plea  whatever  for  subscriptions  on 
account  of  Saint  Joseph's  Church  in  this  city,  or  giving  your 
sanction  or  concurrence  to  others  either  directly  or  indirectly 
to  do  so. 

>%i  Robert  Willson. 

William  Hall,  V.G.  and  Sec. 

A  manuscript  note  of  the  same  date  indicates  Father 
Therry's  attitude  towards  his  ecclesiastical  superior.  He 
docketed  it  "The  conduct  of  Saint  Louis,  King  of  France, 
with  reference  to  Bishops  whenever  he  perceived  that  they 
were  betrayed  into  acts  of  injustice" : — 

Extract  from  the  Life  of  Saint  Louis  King  of  France. 
Never  had  any  man  a  greater  love  for  the  Church,  or  a 
greater  veneration  for  its  Ministers  than  this  good  King;  yet 
this  was  not  blind:  and  he  opposed  the  injustices  of  Bishops, 
when  he  saw  them  betrayed  into  any,  and  he  listened  not  to 
their  complaints  till  he  had  given  a  full  hearing  to  the  other 
party,  as  he  showed  in  the  contests  of  Beauvais  and  Metz, 
with  the  corporations  of  those  cities. 

A  proposal  was  then  made  to  the  Governor  for  a  special 


19  August,   1845. 


234  LIFE    OF   ARCHPR1EST    THERRY 

Act  to  enable  the  Church  Authorities  to  mortgage  St.  Mary's 
land,  which  had  been  a  Government  Grant.  It  was  hoped 
thereby  to  pay  off  the  debts  in  so  far  as  they  were  acknow- 
ledged by  the  Bishop.  The  Governor  refused  to  sanction  the 
proposal  until  matters  had  reached  a  settlement. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  question  of  the  amount 
of  debt,  which  was  taken  as  at  least  £3,300.  But  on  a  re-exami- 
nation of  the  accounts  a  proposal  of  an  entirely  new  nature 
was  agreed  to: — 

On  the  7th  October,  1845,  a  meeting  of  the  clergy  took 
place.  I  was  not  invited  to  it  nor  was  any  person  then 
authorized  to  represent  me,  when  the  following  resolution 
was  signed  by  the  Very  Reverend  William  Hall,  Vicar- 
General,  and  five  other  clergymen,  which  I  have  reason  to 
believe  was  very  reluctantly  done  of  some  of  the  latter: 
"We,  the  Catholic  Clergy  of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  assembled 
this  day  at  Hobart  Town,  have  unanimously  agreed,  after 
mature  deliberation,  and  careful  consideration  of  the  evidence 
produced,  that  the  maximum  of  the  debt  on  the  Hobart  Town 
Church  account  does  not  exceed  £2,300,  and  that  the  Bishop 
would  not  be  justified  in  pressing  on  the  resources  of  the  com- 
munity for  a  larger  sum."  Signed  W.  Hall,  V.G.,  James 
Cotham,  Thomas  Butler,  W.  P.  Bond,  William  J.  Dunne, 
Jas.  Levermore.6 

Father  Therry's  reference  to  the  reluctance  of  some  of  the 
signatories  is  borne  out  by  Father  Butler.  Father  Therry 
wrote  to  him,7  "As  your  name  appears  amongst  those  by  whom 
I  have  been  sentenced  to  lose  my  character  and  to  forfeit  one 
thousand  pounds  at  least,  you  will  not  be  displeased  with  me 
for  enquiring  on  what  evidence  you  have  condemned  me  to  a 
punishment  so  dreadfully  severe."  Father  Butler  replied  that 
he  had  consented  to  reduce  the  debt  by  £1000,  understanding 
that  Father  Therry  would  be  able  to  collect  this  amount  outside 
Van  Diemen's  Land.  He  added:  "P.S.  Lest  you  may  think  I 
have  called  in  question  your  integrity  or  honesty  of  purpose, 
I  now  solemnly  declare  that  in  my  conscience  I  believe  you 

6  From  Father  Therry's  Letter  to   Propaganda,  as  are  most  of  the 
other  quotations  referring  to  this  matter. 
7 13  November,  1845. 


UNSATISFACTORY    PROPOSALS  235 

have  expended  not  only  £3,300  on  Church,  etc.,  but  above 
that  sum,  yet  for  the  reasons  above  I  do  not  think  the  Bishop 
would  be  justified  in  asking  the  people  to  contribute  more 
than  £2,300." 

By  mutual  agreement  the  case  was  submitted  to  a  private 
court.  The  Solicitor-General  acted  for  the  Bishop,  and  Mr. 
Roderick  O'Connor  for  Father  Therry.  But  no  decision  was 
arrived  at.  The  case  was  then  presented  by  Dr.  Willson  to 
the  Caveat  Board,  applying  for  the  restoration  of  all  legal 
rights  to  the  property  in  dispute.  The  application  was  not 
granted.  On  10  December  Dr.  Willson  made  another  proposal 
to  Father  Therry — that  the  debt  be  recognized  as  £2,300,  and 
that  the  £700  due  to  Father  Therry  be  paid  in  yearly  instal- 
ments, and  the  £300  already  collected  in  Sydney  be  added  to 
it,  making  up  the  required  £3,300.  This  was  agreed  to 
by  Father  Therry,  but  was  not  carried  out.  Proposal  followed 
on  proposal;  accountants,  solicitors,  and  private  arbiters  were 
engaged,  but  nothing  was  done. 

The  year  1846  saw  a  repetition  of  the  litigation  of  the  pre- 
ceding year.  Letters  passed  between  the  parties  concerned,  and 
in  July  an  equitable  agreement  was  made  and  signed  by  both 
parties;  but  it,  too,  was  not  observed.  The  letters  of  this  year 
throw  light  on  the  embarrassing  situation  that  had  arisen 
through  the  obstinacy  of  two  strong-willed  men.  Where  a  spirit 
of  trust  and  forgiveness  would  have  settled  all  unpleasantness, 
an  unbalanced  insistence  on  technical  distinctions,  seeking  to 
smother  dissensions  by  litigation,  made  the  solution  of  the 
difficulty  almost  impossible.  A  few  of  these  letters  will  be  of 
interest. 

Father  Therry  wrote  on  April  27 : — 

My  Lord, 

As  I  have  been  just  reminded  that  it  is  your  Lordship's 
intention  to  sail  from  Hobart  Town  to-morrow  for  Norfolk 
Island,  and  as  I  have  reason  to  apprehend  that  your  Lordship 
and  he  who  has  now  the  honor  of  addressing  you  shall  not 
meet  again  before  we  appear  at  the  dread  tribunal  of  the 
Omnipotent  and  Most  Righteous  Judge  of  the  living  and  the 


236  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

dead,  from  whose  decision  there  is  no  appeal,  I  feel  it  to  be 
an  agreeable  duty  to  say,  that  I  am  anxious  to  be  reconciled 
to  your  Lordship  before  you  leave;  and,  as  a  proof  of  the 
sincerity  of  this  anxiety,  I  beg  also  to  say  that  in  the  event  of 
an  immediate  settlement  of  the  Church  Liabilities  on  legal  and 
equitable  terms,  I  shall  cheerfully  undertake  to  procure  by 
subscription  in  N.S.W.,  within  twelve  months  from  this  date, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  which  with  a  subscription  of 
equal  amount  promised  to  me  recently  by  Mr.  John  Regan, 
and  my  own  subscription  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
all  payable  within  twelve  months,  will  take  from  the  amount 
of  the  Church  debt  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc. 

John  Joseph  Therry 

To  this  generous  overture  he  received  the  curt  reply: — 

Rev.  Sir, 

Your  letter  was  received  last  night  at  a  very  untimely 
hour.  Whoever  may  have  business  to  transact  relative  to  the 
temporal  affairs  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  must  apply  to  my 
Solicitor,  Mr.  Pitcairn. 

^R.  W.  Willson. 

A  few  days  later,  however,  a  new  offer  was  made  during 
the  Bishop's  absence : — 

On  the  4th  May,  1846,  a  document  of  which  the  following 
is  a  copy  was  handed  to  me  by  Captain  Swanston,  the  manager 
of  the  Derwent  Bank  and  one  of  the  Bishop's  friends,  as  a 
plan  of  settlement  of  which  His  Lordship  had  approved. 

(1)  Bishop  Willson  to  pay  to  Mr.  Therry  the  sum  of  £700, 
to  enable  Mr.  Therry  to  discharge  his  numerous  small  debts 
and  to  leave  the  Colony; 

(2)  Bishop  Willson  to  engage  himself  to  use  his  utmost 
endeavours  that  the  residue  of  the  sum  claimed  on  the  Church 
account,  say  £2,600,  and  for  which  sum  Mr.  Therry  and  his 
co-trustees  have  made  themselves  responsible,  shall  be  paid 
and  their  responsibility  removed  within  three  years  by  five 
equal  instalments  in  12,  18,  24,  30  and  36  months ; 

(3)  That  the  Church  property  shall  be  vested  in  the  names 
of  two  persons  unconnected  either  with  Bishop  Willson  or 
Mr.  Therry,  to  whom  Mr.  Therry  and  his  co-trustees  shall 
surrender  their  Trust; 

(4)  That  the  new  Trustees  shall  have  power  of  mortgag- 


THE    SWANSTON    PROPOSAL  237 

ing  the  Church  property  under  the  authority  of  Bishop  Will- 
son  to  enable  His  Lordship  to  raise  the  funds  necessary  to  pay 
off  the  debt  incurred  by  Mr.  Therry; 

(5)  That  if  within  24  months  the  first  three  payments  shall 
not  have  been  made,  or  the  responsibility  removed,  the  new 
Trustees  shall  resign  their  trust  and  shall  deliver  back  to  Mr. 
Therry  the  deeds  of  the  trust  property; 

(6)  That  Mr.  Therry  shall,  on  the  above  arrangement  being 
entered  into,  leave  the  Colony. 

Signed,  Charles  Swanston. 

From  this  moment  it  becomes  almost  impossible  to  follow 
the  course  of  events  intelligently  on  the  evidence  at  present 
available.  In  the  first  place,  the  Swanston  offer  seems  to  have 
for  some  unknown  reason  fallen  flat,  for  the  correspondence 
that  immediately  followed  on  the  Bishop's  return  ignores  it. 
On  29  June  Father  Therry  wrote : — 

My  dear  Lord, 

Having  this  morning  declared  from  the  altar, 
after  the  celebration  of  the  Divine  Mysteries  in  St.  Joseph's, 
that  you  had  done  everything  in  your  power  ...  to  effect  a 
just  settlement  of  the  debts  contracted  by  the  trustees  of  that 
Church.  ...  I  am  still  anxious  to  accept  any  offer  respecting 
those  debts,  that  may  appear  to  us  to  be  just  and  equitable 
....  It  follows  then,  that  either  of  us  must  have  laboured 
under  a  dangerous  illusion  that  may  become  false  if  not 
speedily  removed.  .  .  .  Let  us  now  if  possible  avoid  a  refer- 
ence to  bygone  transactions,  and  attempt  at  once  de  novo  to 
come  to  an  arrangement.  .   .   . 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

This  time  the  reply  came  from  the  Vicar  General. 

June  29th. 
Rev.  Sir, 

I  am  directed  by  the  Bishop  to  state  that,  with 
reference  to  the  temporal  business  of  the  Church,  you  are  re- 
quested to  communicate  with  his  solicitor,  Mr.  Pitcairn. 

I  am  etc., 
W.  Hall,  V.G. 

On  2  July,  however,  an  agreement  on  the  Swanston  lines 
was  actually  signed  : — 

An  application  to  be  made  forthwith  to  the  Government 


238  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

for  leave  to  mortgage  St.  Joseph's  Church  and  the  adjoining 
buildings,  etc.  for  £2000.  In  the  event  that  the  Government 
refuses  that  leave,  the  Bishop  and  Clergy  to  give  a  written 
assurance  to  the  creditors  that  they  will  use  their  utmost  en- 
deavours that  the  sum  of  £3,300  shall  be  paid  as  follows,  viz : 
£700  to  Mr.  Therry's  private  creditors  immediately,  and  the 
remaining  £2,600  to  be  paid  within  three  years,  by  instalments 
at  12,  18,  24,  30,  36  months,  at  8  per  cent,  interest,  but  in  the 
event  of  any  unforeseen  circumstances  occurring  to  prevent  the 
full  payment  of  that  amount  within  the  period  specified,  the 
Bishop  and  Clergy  pledge  themselves  that  the  balance  shall  be 
paid  as  soon  as  possible,  with  the  aforesaid  interest. 

^  R.  W.  WlLLSON. 

John  Joseph  Therry 

To  the  agreement  was  attached  a  memorandum  (which  Father 
Therry  accepted)  in  which  the  Bishop  and  his  priests  claimed 
that  they  regarded  themselves  as  bound  by  a  moral  and  not 
a  legal  obligation. 

This  agreement,  although  for  many  years  Father  Therry 
regarded  it  as  the  only  satisfactory  solution,  was  within  a  few 
days  found  impossible.  The  Lieutenant-Governor  promptly 
refused  permission  to  mortgage  the  properties  in  question,  on 
the  ground  that  in  his  opinion  the  grants  of  land  had  been 
intended  for  a  permanent  support  to  the  Church,  not  as  a 
means  of  enabling  members  of  the  Church  to  relieve  them- 
selves of  financial  embarrassments.  Consequently  within  a 
week  (on  8  July)  the  Bishop  put  forward  a  new  offer,  of 
which  we  have  no  explicit  details : — 

Rev.  Sir, 

The  document  I  now  forward  to  you  contains  the 
terms  I  have  now  to  offer  once  more  to  you  for  the  settlement 
of  affairs  which  so  deeply  afflict  the  church,  which  terms  are 
approved  of  by  your  co-trustees,  Messrs  Alcock8  and  Regan. 
From  those  terms  I  shall  not  depart;  and  should  you  decline 
acceding  to  them,  I  beg  to  inform  you  that  I  shall  not  enter 
into  any  further  communication  on  the  subject. 

8  Mr.  Alcock  had  ceased  to  be  a  trustee  some  time  before  Bishop 
Willson's  arrival ;  his  successor  was  a  Mr.  Insley. 


BISHOP    WILLSON    ADAMANT  239 

You  will  please  to  remember  that  contrary  to  the  Canon  of 
the  Church,  and  the  printed  regulations  of  the  Vicariate  of 
N.S.W.  and  Van  Diemen's  Land,  you  erected  a  church,  and 
in  part  paid  for  it  by  money  given  by  the  public  (£3,100),  on 
land  purchased  solely  in  your  own  name,  not  even  as  a  trustee, 
and,  taking  advantage  of  that  strange  act,  you  have  set  at 
defiance  for  the  space  of  two  years  every  effort  which  has 
been  made  to  free  you  and  others  from  responsibilities  in- 
curred, declaring  that  you  would  never  give  up  the  title 
until  all  responsibilities  were  legally  removed. 

You  are  aware  now,  as  you  were  then,  that  the  church  pos- 
sesses no  available  property  to  pay  or  upon  which  money  can 
be  obtained  by  mortgage  for  the  discharge  of  the  debt  con- 
tracted, and  therefore  I  could  not  in  justice  to  myself,  or  to  the 
creditors,  bind  myself  by  personal  or  legal  responsibility  to 
pay  that  which  I  do  not  possess  and  which  I  could  not  com- 
mand  I  therefore  offer  you  once  more  with  the  concur- 
rence of  my  fellow-labourers  (and  they  have  recorded  their 
reasons  for  doing  so  in  a  resolution  passed  among  themselves 
last  week),  the  best  terms  I  can,  and  now  leave  to  the  Dis- 
poser of  all  events,  the  issue. 

►£  R.  W.   WlLLSON. 

In  this  letter  the  Bishop's  case  was  clearly  presented. 
Father  Therry,  in  his  perversity,  had  violated  the  canons  of 
the  Church,  and  had  persevered  in  this  attitude  to  the  great 
distress  of  those  within  and  without  the  Church.  But  he  was 
not  wholly  to  blame.  The  Bishop  was  adamant ;  he  had  never 
courted  compromise.  The  justice  of  Father  Therry's  claims 
was  supported  by  men  of  learning,  such  as  the  Archbishop  of 
Sydney  and  Father  McEncroe.  His  attitude,  however,  was 
never  completely  condoned.  Each  litigant  was  at  fault;  and 
the  fault  was  obstinacy. 

The  reply  from  Father  Therry  gives  some  idea  of  the  pri- 
vations he  was  enduring  in  Tasmania,  where,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, he  was  suspended,  and  in  receipt  of  no  salary. 

My  dear  Lord, 

I  have  had  this  evening  the  honour  of  receiving 
your  letter  of  this  date,  enclosing  a  document  containing  terms 
proposed  by  your  Lordship  for  the  settlement  of  Church  affairs, 
and  further  stating  that  from  those  terms  you  will  not  depart. 


240  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

In  reply  I  beg  to  say,  that  I  shall  not  willingly  depart  from 
the  agreement  made  on  2nd  July,  which  was  signed  both  by 
your  Lordship  and  myself.  But,  if  your  Lordship  is  deter- 
mined to  compel  me,  after  a  moral  imprisonment  of  two  years 
in  the  colony  without  an  income,  to  adopt  your  own  terms,  I 
must  either  submit  to  them  or  to  impending  ruin,  as  my  private 
debts  alone  in  this  city  amount  to  £1400,  whilst  I  still  have 
the  whole  responsibility  of  the  Church  debt  upon  me.  To 
recover  payment  of  three  of  those  latter  debts,  three  actions 
were  commenced  against  me  during  the  last  term  in  the 
Supreme  Court.  One  of  them  was  stayed  by  a  renewed  ac- 
ceptance at  I2y2  per  cent.;  on  the  last  an  execution  has  been 
issued  against  me,  in  virtue  of  which,  the  Sheriff's  bailiff  is 
now  in  charge  of  my  property,  which  may  be  sold  by  auction 
in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  With  reference  to  the  charges 
brought  against  me  in  the  latter  part  of  your  letter,  your 
Lordship  will,  I  trust,  pardon  me  for  deferring  my  answer 
to  them  till  they  shall  have  been  formally  brought  before  a 
competent  and  impartial  tribunal.  T    T   T 

From  a  letter  of  Mr.  Pritchard,  Father  Therry's  solicitor, 
the  condition  of  his  finances  can  be  learned.  "Mr.  Bennison 
will  perfect  his  judgments  against  Mr.  Insley  and  yourself" 
[the  trustees]  "on  the  part  of  Crisp  to-morrow.  ...  I  have 
seen  Messrs.  Butler  and  Coy.  about  Mr.  Dunkley's  action. 
They  are  instructed  to  lose  no  time  in  obtaining  a  judgment.9 
If  this  be  so,  you  will  be  obliged  to  choose  between  the  alter- 
native of  an  insolvency  and  a  surrender  at  discretion  to  the 
Bishop/' 

At  this  date  Dr.  Polding  was  in  Rome.  Dr.  Willson  now 
departed  for  the  same  destination.  Father  Therry  left  Tas- 
mania at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  for  about  six  months  suc- 
ceeded Father  Geoghegan  in  the  charge  of  the  parish  of  Mel- 
bourne.  The  following  year  he  spent  in  Sydney. 

Meanwhile  the  litigation  was  continued  by  appeals  to  the 
Caveat  Board  on  behalf  of  the  former  Vicar  General  and  the 
disappointed  creditors,  and  counter-appeals  by  the  solicitors 
of  the  Church  authorities. 

0  Crisp  had  given  credit  to  the  Trustees  of  St.  Joseph's  to  the  extent 
of  £56,  and  Dunkley  £114.    See  also  Appendix  A,  Nos.  38,  41,  46-51. 


FATHER    McENCROE    INTERVENES  241 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1848,  Father  McEncroe  advised 
acceptance  of  the  Bishop's  last  offer.  He  wrote  to  the  three 
Trustees : — 

I  have  seen  the  offer  recently  made  by  the  Bishop  and 
Clergy,  viz :  "We  bind  ourselves  morally  and  by  every  solemn 
sanction,  short  of  a  legal  undertaking,  to  pay  off  the  remainder 
of  the  Debts  in  three  years  and  to  pay  8  per  cent,  in  the  mean- 
time." A  Gentleman  of  the  highest  respectability,  and  in  whose 
judgment  the  Archbishop  places  great  confidence,  recommends 
the  acceptance  of  the  offer.  I  should  dissuade  a  recurrence  to 
further  legal  proceedings  or  legal  advice,  as  our  respected 
Attorney  General  here  observes  that  this  is  a  case  to  be  settled 
by  honest  men  of  common  sense,  and  not  by  the  opinion  of 
Attorneys 

But  the  year  1848  passed,  and  no  settlement  was  effected. 

On  26  January,  1849,  Father  Therry  addressed  a  petition 
to  the  Bishop,  introduced  by  the  headline,  "Spectaculum  facti 
sumus  mundo  et  angelis  et  hominibus!'  He  begged  that  the 
Bishop  would  put  into  execution  the  agreement  signed  by  him 
in  July,  1846.  The  Bishop  was  not  in  a  compromising  mood. 
He  aired  his  grievances  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Heptonstall,  com- 
plaining of  the  attitude  of  Dr.  Polding  since  his  return  from 
Rome:—10 

....  We  are  just  in  the  state  I  left  things  in  1846.  Mr. 
Therry  is  here,  as  mad  as  ever!!  The  Abp.  has  reversed  (as 
much  as  black  is  opposed  to  white)  his  decisions  and  opinions 
given  in  Rome,  (just  as  I  foretold  or  rather  dreaded)  :  unless 
you  saw  the  letters  you  would  not  believe  it;  and  still  no 
reasons  are  given  for  changing.  The  fact  is,  the  Abp.  is  sur- 
rounded by  men  who  allow  him  not  to  have  a  will  of  his  own, 
and  all  fear  Therry's  influence  in  N.  S.  Wales.  If  I  hear  not 
from  the  Abp.  in  a  short  time,  all  correspondence  shall  be  sent 
to  Rome.  I  apprehend  the  Abp.  has  applied  to  Rome  for  power 
to  settle  the  affair  himself,  but  I  may  be  wrong.  However, 
I  shall  submit  to  no  such  arrangement  until  I  have  made  an 
appeal.  The  Abp.  has  decided — he  recorded  his  decision  when 
in  Rome ;  he  even  went  so  far  as  to  wish  to  have  power  to 
compel  Mr.  Therry  to  return  to  Cork  in  one  month  if  he  re- 

30  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11.,  149. 


242  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

fused  to  accept  of  the  just  and  liberal  offers  made  by  me. 
This  written  decision  prevented  me  going  to  Propaganda,  the 
only  business  which  took  me  to  Rome. 

The  situation  was  becoming  more  serious.  The  controversy, 
hitherto  confined  to  the  clergy  and  a  few  members  of  the 
laity,  was  taken  up  by  the  Press.  The  Britannia  published  all 
the  letters  and  agreements  between  the  Bishop  and  Father 
Therry.  To  such  a  bigoted  journal  the  position  was  delightful. 
It  printed  leading  articles  on  the  Bishop's  despotic  treatment  of 
an  innocent  priest,  and  took  upon  itself  the  task  of  protecting 
Father  Therry.  When  a  charge  of  bigotry  was  made  against 
the  paper,  the  editor  threatened  legal  proceedings,  and  stated 
his  intention  of  issuing  a  pamphlet  "that  will  be  instructive,  as 
respects  the  power  the  priesthood  has  to  ride  roughshod  over 
the  majority  of  the  people." 

Father  Therry  appealed  to  Dr.  Folding  to  extricate  him 
from  the  difficulties  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  He  wished 
for  peace  in  the  Church.  He  reminded  Dr.  Willson  that  the 
agreements  signed  by  both  parties  in  1845  and  1846  still  re- 
mained unfulfilled.  These  agreements  he  forwarded  to  Dr. 
Polding,  saying  that  he  had  always  been  willing  to  abide  by 
them;  it  was  the  Bishop  who  had  failed. 

The  Archbishop  of  Sydney  had  so  often  failed  to  settle 
the  Hobart  troubles  that  he  hesitated  to  adjudicate  again.  Fie 
sent  his  Auxiliary,  Dr.  Davis,  Bishop  of  Maitland,  to  help  in 
the  solution  of  the  difficulty.  Dr.  Davis,  writing  to  the  Prior 
of  Downside  on  12  December,  1849,  stated  his  view  of  the 
facts  thus  : — u 

....  After  Christmas  I  am  going  to  Van  Diemen's 
Land  at  Bishop  Willson's  request,  with  a  view  to  settle  this 
most  unfortunate  affair  of  the  Hobart  Town  Church.  This 
dreadful  business  has  continued  to  the  present  time  and  has 
almost  ruined  the  Church  of  Van  Diemen's  Land.  It  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  the  Bishop  did  not,  at  his  first  arrival 
at  Hobart  Town,  on  finding  the  Church  in  debt  to  the  amount 
of  some  ^3000,   immediately   decline   having  anything  to   do 

11  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11.,  155-6 


VIEW    OF    BISHOP    DAVIS  243 

with  it  until  the  Archbishop  and  Mr.  Therry,  who  had  been 
his  grace's  V.G.  in  V.  Diemen's  Land,  should  have  settled 
these  matters  and  put  all  on  a  good  footing.  Instead  of  doing 
this,  the  Bishop  took  possession  of  his  Church,  got  Mr.  Therry 
to  make  over  to  him  the  salary  (about  £600  a  year)  which 
Mr.  Therry  had  hitherto  enjoyed  as  head  of  the  Church, 
and  then  declined  the  responsibility  of  the  debt.  This  appears 
hardly  fair,  as  emolumenta  and  onera  ought  to  go  together; 
and  considering  that  Mr.  Therry  had  been  solely  instrumental 
in  securing  this  Government  salary  to  the  Church,  he  would 
naturally  expect  the  Bishop  to  take  from  him  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  Church  debt.  Besides,  Therry,  though  a  worthy 
man  is  a  rum  an  to  deal  with ;  and  to  be  at  variance  with  him 
is  to  be  exposed  to  odium  from  all  quarters,  so  much  is  he 
esteemed  and  loved  by  all  amongst  whom  he  has  been  labour- 
ing during  the  last  30  years.  He  is  the  queerest  mixture  of 
good  and  evil  (evil,  of  course,  I  mean  materialiter  non  forma- 
litcr  sumptum),  that  ever  crossed  your  path;  benevolent  and 
charitable  in  the  extreme,  indefatigably  zealous,  and  of  extra- 
ordinary devotion;  hours  will  he  spend  kneeling  before  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  after  celebrating  Mass,  should  no  duty  call 
him  away;  yet,  with  all  these  excellences,  he  will  not  scruple 
as  to  the  means  of  annoying  anyone  that  unfortunately  comes 
in  contact  with  him.  He  is  not  an  avaricious  man,  or  he  might 
long  since  have  left  the  Colony  with  £40,000  at  least;  and  at 
the  same  time  that  he  would  spend  all  that  he  had  amongst 
the  poor,  he  would  niggle  with  the  poor  Bishop  for  a  farthing. 
He  has  been  staying  at  Hobart  Town  during  the  last  18 
months  and  he  protests  that  he  neither  will  nor  can  leave 
that  place  until  the  Bishop  comes  to  some  arrangement  of  the 
Church  affair.  His  presence  there  is,  I  fear,  a  great  annoyance 
to  the  Bishop,  and  an  equal  evil  to  the  Church.  Nearly  all  the 
people  sympathise  with  him,  and,  as  you  may  suppose,  the 
Bishop's  unpopularity  is  proportionate  to  that  sympathy.  In 
consequence  of  the  delay  in  the  settlement,  the  debt  has  been 
accumulating  at  8  per  cent,  interest  during  the  last  six  years, 
so  that,  under  all  circumstances,  as  you  may  suppose,  I  do  not 
contemplate  my  job  with  much  pleasure  or  very  sanguine 
hopes  of  success.  However,  as  the  Archbishop  thinks  we  shall 
succeed,  I  most  willingly  accede  to  Bishop  Willson's  request.  I 
don't  know  Mr.  Therry  personally,  and  on  this  account  I 
must  take  with  me  one  of  our  clergy,  otherwise  he  will  pro- 
bably regard  me  as  a  partisan  of  the  Bishop.  This  affair  I  ex- 
pect will  cost  me  about  £50 ;  and  I  fear  there  will  be  no  funds 


244  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

at  Hobart  Town  to  defray  my  expenses ;  however,  I  should  be 
happy  to  spend  ten  times  the  sum  (if  I  had  it),  to  restore 
peace  to  that  afflicted  Church. 

Bishop  Davis,  too,  was  unsuccessful.  He  had  to  write  on 
his  departure.  "I  am  sorry  in  returning  to  Sydney,  I  am 
leaving  the  unfortunate  affairs  of  the  Church  in  the  same  un- 
satisfactory state  in  which  I  found  them." 

In  1 85 1  official  permission  was  given  to  re-open  the  case 
before  the  Caveat  Board.  Among  the  Therry  papers  there  are 
lengthy  submissions  by  different  solicitors  for  and  against  the 
contention  that  the  Catholic  community  never  acknowledged 
the  debt  to  be  £3,300,  and  that  the  Bishop,  when  mentioning 
that  sum  in  the  1846  agreement,  did  not  take  responsibility  for 
more  than  £2,300.  A  report  of  the  proceedings  states  that  legal 
costs  up  to  the  present  are  considerably  in  excess  of  the  amount 
in  dispute.  On  26  October,  1852,  Bishop  Willson  made  the 
problem  still  more  difficult.  He  proposed  that  the  amounts 
should  be  determined  by  two  or  four  gentlemen,  but  "to  pre- 
vent any  misunderstanding  I  add,  it  is  not  my  intention  to  take 
upon  myself  the  moral  responsibility  for  the  payment  of  any 
sum  not  declared  to  be  due  by  arbitrators,  as  I  did  up  to  the 
time  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Davis  visited  Hobart  on  in  January, 
1850."  On  the  26th  of  November  he  emphasized  his  antipathy 
to  Father  Therry  by  forbidding  him  to  attend  the  sick-beds  of 
those  who  called  for  his  services,  and  advising  him  to  refer 
all  sick-calls  to  the  Vicar  General. 

The  quarrel  was  at  last  submitted  to  the  Solicitor  General 
as  arbitrator.  In  twenty  folio  pages  the  Bishop's  case,  a  review 
of  the  whole  proceedings,  was  drawn  up  by  his  solicitor. 
Father  Therry's  solicitor  was  no  less  energetic.  But  the 
decision,  given  on  26  March,  1852,  was  unsatisfactory  to  all 
parties.  The  arbitrator  reviewed  many  of  the  proposed  solu- 
tions, analysed  the  difficulties  that  would  make  them  inopera- 
tive, and  saw  no  way  out  of  the  trouble: — 

I  have  most  anxiously  considered  this  case  with  a  view  of 
devising  some  Legislative  remedy,  by  means  of  which  the  re- 
imbursement of  the  sums  of  money  expended  on  St.  Joseph's 


ARBITRATOR'S    OPINION  245 

Church  by  Mr.  Regan  and  the  other  creditors  may  be  secured 
to  them.  But  I  regret  to  say  that  I  have  found  the  subject  at 
every  turn  so  beset  with  difficulties  on  all  sides,  that  I  have 
been  unable  to  arrive  at  any  satisfactory  result. 

It  is  obvious  that  the  only  tangible  subject  matter  for  the 
Legislature  to  deal  with  is  the  church  property  and  appurten- 
ances. For  there  is  no  definite  person  or  body  of  persons,  who 
can  be  fixed  with  liability  to  pay  these  sums  of  money.  The  ut- 
most that  can  be  assumed  in  favor  of  the  creditors,  is,  that  the 
Roman  Catholic  community,  having  the  benefit  of  the  expendi- 
ture, ought  to  discharge  the  debt.  But  who  compose  the  R.C. 
community  ?  The  term  is  obviously  so  vague  that  the  body  com- 
prehended within  it  cannot  be  dealt  with  by  Legislative  enact- 
ment. As  to  charging  the  debt  on  the  salaries  of  the  Bishop 
and  clergy,  that  could  only  proceed  on  the  assumption  that  they 
are,  or  have  made  themselves,  personally  responsible.  But  that 
cannot  be  so  considered.  They  have  no  personal  interest  in 
the  monies  expended,  and  have  never  admitted  a  personal 
liability.  They  cannot  be  regarded  in  connection  with  this 
matter  but  as  the  agents  of  the  R.C.  community,  and  in  that- 
character  could  not  be  made  responsible  through  the  medium 
of  their  salaries,  which  contemplates  a  personal  liability.  But 
it  is  suggested  that  the  debt  might  be  charged  on  their  salaries 
as  a  means  of  compelling  them  to  adopt  measures  which  are 
in  their  power  to  raise  the  debt  from  other  sources.  But  such 
an  indirect  species  of  Legislation  would  never  be  adopted — nor 
could  I,  by  any  means,  advise  it.  It  would  be  an  attempt  to 
operate  in  terrorem — to  operate  on  the  fears  of  the  Bishop  and 
clergy  of  loss  of  salary — to  give  them  a  personal  interest  in 
procuring  means  from  the  community — viz.  to  relieve  them- 
selves from  the  personal  liability  fixed  on  them  by  the  Legis- 
lature. The  Council,  I  am  convinced,  would  never  be  party  to 
such  a  proposition. 

There  remains  then  the  Church  property  only,  and,  the 
only  mode  of  dealing  with  that  which  can  be  suggested  is  by 
way  of  mortgage — or  something  in  the  nature  of  a  mort- 
gage. The  Sydney  Act  3  Wm.  4.,  for  enabling  the  Trustees 
of  the  Scotch  Church  to  mortgage  to  the  Government, 
is  cited  as  a  precedent.  No  doubt  if  the  Government  of 
this  Colony  could  be  induced  to  advance  the  required  sum  on 
such  an  Act  being  passed,  that  measure  would  form  a  prece- 
dent. But  I  conceive  it  very  improbable  that  the  Government 
here  would  be  induced  to  make  such  an  advance,  even  if  the 
Council  were  prepared  to  sanction  it.    If  the   Law  Officers 


246  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

were  consulted  I  think  it  would  be  their  duty  to  advise  that 
such  an  Act  as  the  Sydney  Act  would  be  nearly  inoperative  for 
securing  the  repayment  of  the  money.  The  security  would  be 
altogether  of  too  questionable  a  nature  to  make  it  safe  to  ad- 
vise the  Government  to  rely  upon  it. 

An  Act  authorizing  Trustees  to  raise  the  requisite  sum  on 
mortgage  would,  it  appears  to  me,  be  equally  inoperative.  For 
who  would  advance  such  a  sum  on  such  a  security?  The  only 
means  by  which  such  a  mortgage  could  eventually  be  enforced 
would  be  by  a  power  of  sale — but  of  what  use  would  that  be? 
Who  would  buy  a  church  ?  It  is  suggested  that  the  Bishop  and 
congregation  would  make  sufficient  exertions  to  prevent  such 
a  desecration — but  would  anyone  be  willing  to  advance  his 
money  on  the  sole  dependence  of  such  a  feeling  actuating  the 
R.C.  community?  I  apprehend  not.  And  therefore  an  Act 
empowering  the  borrowing  of  the  sum  on  mortgage,  though 
perhaps  the  least  objectionable  course  in  point  of  principle, 
would  be  nugatory  in  practice. 

The  only  other  course  is  one  which  would  probably  be  ef- 
fectual in  practice,  but  is  too  objectionable  in  principle  to  leave 
any  hope  of  its  adoption.  It  is,  to  vest  the  property  in  the 
Church  &c.  in  the  Creditors  themselves  as  Mortgagees  for  the 
purpose  of  seeking  repayment  of  their  debt.  Here  the  prac- 
tical difficulty  of  obtaining  the  loan  would  be  done  away. 
The  loan  would  have  been  already  made,  as  it  were — and  all 
that  would  remain  would  be  to  enforce  its  payment.  And  on 
proceeding  to  do  this  by  exercising  a  power  of  sale,  I  can  have 
little  doubt  that  the  object  of  obtaining  payment  would  be 
obtained  by  the  exertions  of  the  Bishop  and  Clergy  to  prevent 
a  sale.  But  the  objection  to  such  a  course  in  principle  is  this — 
that  inasmuch  as  not  only  the  monies  of  these  creditors  but 
also  those  contributed  by  the  Government  and  other  parties 
were  expended  on  the  church,  the  proposed  measure  would 
give  the  creditors  a  right  of  disposition  over  funds  which 
ought  not  in  justice  to  be  subject  to  their  claim.  It  would  be  a 
very  different  matter  if  the  sums  advanced  by  these  creditors 
were  the  only  funds  expended — for  then  the  building  might 
very  fairly  be  made  subject  to  their  claim.  But  the  other 
monies  (those  of  the  Government  and  other  contributors)  are 
so  inextricably  mixed  with  those  of  the  Creditors,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  give  the  latter  any  right  over  the  property  with- 
out infringing  the  rights  of  the  former.  It  is  impossible  to  get 
over  this  objection  and,  in  my  opinion,  it  finally  disposes  of 
any  hope  of  Legislative  interference  of  that  nature. 


CASE    REFERRED    TO    ROME  247 

As  to  the  suggestion  of  the  possibility  of  a  vote  of  the  Coun- 
cil based  on  the  inequality  of  the  aid  afforded  by  Government 
hitherto  to  the  R.C.  Church  in  comparison  with  the  other  en- 
dowed churches,  anyone  acquainted  with  the  temper  of  the 
Council  in  that  respect  will  see  at  once  the  futility  of  any 
such  hope. 

I  have  been  indeed  most  anxious  to  devise,  if  possible, 
some  means  of  extricating  the  Creditors  from  their  diffi- 
culties, and  deeply  regret  that  after  much  thought  and  patient 
consideration  I  have  been  unable  to  arrive  at  any  satisfactory 
result. 

The  futility  of  litigation  and  of  State  interference  had  been 
at  last  proved,  but  there  was  another  authority  to  which  an 
appeal  could  be  made.  Dr.  Willson  was  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Rome.  We  learn  from  a  letter  of  Father  Therry's,  written 
in  November,  J 852,  that  by  that  time  Rome  had  investigated 
the  case.  In  March  of  the  following  year  Father  Matthew 
(the  famed  temperance  advocate)  congratulated  Father 
Therry:  "I  anxiously  hope  that,  the  Court  of  Rome  having 
decreed  in  your  favour,  you  have  been  reinstated  in  your 
rights."   Yet  the  end  was  not  in  sight. 

Rome  deputed  the  Archbishop  of  Sydney  to  settle  the  case ; 
he,  acting  on  a  hint  from  Rome,  decided  to  place  the  matter 
in  the  hands  of  an  Episcopal  Synod,  but  his  efforts  were  nulli- 
fied by  the  refusal  of  Dr.  Willson  to  accept  a  synodal  decision. 
Dr.  Polding  wrote  to  Bishop  Serra  in  January,  1857 : — 13 

....  I  was  on  the  point  of  requesting  your  attendance 
at  a  Synod  which  the  Holy  See  intimated  its  wish  to  be  con- 
vened— in  case  I  considered  that  by  the  means  of  the  Synod 
the  sad  discussions  which  have  been  going  on  in  Van  Diemen's 
Land  for  many  years  could  be  terminated. 

Of  this  I  saw  no  prospect,  and  consequently  I  did  not  con- 
voke the  Prelates  of  the  Province.  One  party  had  entered  his 
protest  against  any  decision  to  which  the  Bishops  might  come, 
and  the  other  had  rejected  the  terms  which  I  myself  drew  up 
as  meeting  the  equity  of  the  case — so  the  matter  is  at  once  re- 
ferred to  the  Holy  See. 

13  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11.,  236. 


248  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

This  time  Father  Therry  was  appealed  to.  The  Cardinal 
Prefect  of  Propaganda  wrote : — 

Reverende  Domine, 

R.P.D.  Archiepiscopus  Sydneyensis,  cui  Sacrum 
Consilium  Christiano  Nomini  propagando  commiserat,  ut  officia 
sua  tecum  inter  ac  R.P.D.  Episcopum  Wilson  interponeret  ad 
notas  controversias  componendas,  mense  Julii  hujus  anni 
significavit  mihi  nondum  sibi  datum  esse  ut  eum  finem  penitus 
consequeretur. 

Cum  vero  Sacrae  huic  Congregationi  apprime  in  votis  sit, 
ut  scandala  devitentur  quae  ex  dictis  controversiis  necessario 
proficiscuntur,  admodum  aegre  tulit  conatus  Archiepiscopi 
Sydneyensis  magna  ex  parte  in  irritum  cecidisse.  Quae  cum 
ita  sint,  Dominationem  tuam  hortor  vehementer  ut  laudati 
Praesulis  officiis  deferre  velis,  quo  tandem  omnia  tecum  inter 
atque  Episcopum  Hobartoniensem  amice  concilientur.  Qua 
super  re  dum  responsum  a  Te  Sacrae  hujus  Congregationis 
desiderio  consentaneum  praestolabor,  Deum  rogo  ut  tibi  bona 
cuncta  largiatur. 

Datum  Romae  ex  Aedibus  S.  Congregationis  de  Propa- 
ganda Fide — Die  16  Decembris  1856. 

Dominationis  Tuae  Studiosus, 
Al.  C.  Barnabo,  Praefectus.14 

In  September,  1857,  Bishop  Murphy  of  Adelaide  visited 
Tasmania.  He,  too,  had  to  write  on  his  departure  "I  go  away 
with  a  sad  heart  occasioned  by  my  not  having  succeeded  in 

34  This  letter  is  reproduced  from  a  copy  found  among  the  Therry 
papers.  Errors  in  spelling,  etc.,  may  safely  be  attributed  to  the  copyist. 
(Translation.)  Rev.  Sir, — The  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  of  Sydney, 
to  whom  the  Sacred  Council  of  Propaganda  had  entrusted  the  task  of 
settling  the  well-known  differences  between  you  and  Bishop  Willson, 
has  written  to  me  in  July  of  this  year,  stating  that  this  object  has  not 
been  attained.  Since  it  is  the  particular  desire  of  this  Sacred  Congrega- 
tion that  scandals  such  as  must  necessarily  arise  from  the  said  contro- 
versies should  be  prevented,  it  regrets  exceedingly  that  the  efforts  of 
the  Archbishop  of  Sydney  have  been  to  a  large  extent  vain.  And  so  I 
ardently  exhort  you  to  defer  willingly  to  the  decision  of  your  Superior, 
so  that  all  differences  between  you  and  the  Bishop  of  Hobart  may  be 
settled  in  a  friendly  way.  Wherefore,  until  a  reply  is  received  from  you, 
I  shall  regard  you  as  in  sympathy  with  the  wish  of  this  Sacred  Con- 
gregation.    I  beseech  God  to  bestow  all  blessings  upon  you. 

Given   at  Rome,   from  the   Offices  of  the   Sacred   Congregation   of 
Propaganda. 

Al.  Cardinal  Barnabo. 

16  Dec,   1856.  Prefect. 


A    SETTLEMENT   AT    LAST  249 

bringing  the  affairs  of  Hobart  Church  to  an  amicable  arrange- 
ment." However,  he  returned  to  Hobart  a  few  weeks  later, 
this  time  accompanied  by  Bishop  Goold  of  Melbourne.  The 
case  was  submitted  once  more,  and,  under  the  constraint  of 
directions  from  Rome,  the  contention  of  thirteen  years'  stand- 
ing was  finally  settled. 

The  terms  of  the  settlement  were  announced  by  Bishop 
Willson  in  a  Pastoral  Letter  dated  Midlent  Sunday,  1858: — 

Beloved  of  our  Lord, 

For  several  years  some  questions  regarding  tem- 
poral matters,  connected  with  the  erection  of  St.  Joseph's 
Church,  have  unfortunately  crippled  my  exertions  to  serve 
you  as  I  could  wish.  Happily,  all  obstacles  have  been  lately  re- 
moved, and  a  final  settlement  effected.  To  accomplish  this  de- 
sirable result,  I  have  ventured  to  make  myself  personally  re- 
sponsible for  £1500,  and  £45/12/6  expenses,  in  procuring  the 
grant  and  a  settlement  of  this  long  pending  affair.  The  Church 
and  the  property  adjoining  are  now  legally  secured  to  trustees 
by  a  grant  from  the  Crown.  The  debt,  therefore,  that  remains 
on  the  whole  amounts  to  £1,545/12/6. 

Peace  had  come  at  last.  Father  Therry,  always  ready  to 
offer  the  hand  of  friendship  to  an  opponent,  once  the  battle 
was  fought  and  won,  wrote  to  the  Bishop  a  flattering  letter 
recognizing  an  act  of  kindness.  But  the  Bishop  was  made  of 
sterner  stuff.  He  offered  his  forgiveness,  declared  his  thank- 
fulness for  peace — and  then  wrote  to  Father  Therry  as 
follows : — 

I  have  lately  returned  from  Melbourne,  and  whilst  there 
was  informed  that  you  had  stated  with  much  apparent  satis- 
faction, some  little  act  of  civility  of  mine  towards  you  when 

last  in  Hobarton I  trust  that  any  act  of  civility  towards 

you  personally,  you  will  not  construe  into  a  supposition  that 
many  of  your  acts  towards  me  as  Bishop,  are  considered  to 
have  been  of  no  account.  Should,  unhappily,  that  be  your 
opinion,  I  assure  you,  you  are  in  error.  I  and  you  are  fast  ap- 
proaching the  grave,  in  the  nature  of  things  near  the  brink 
of  Eternity.  We  will  soon  have  to  account  for  what  has  tran- 
spired during  our  lives,  and  the  unhappy  affairs  at  Hobarton 
will  be  included. 


250  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

He  then  narrates  under  six  headings  the  history  of  the  past 
dissensions,  and  closes  this  (his  last)  letter  to  Father  Therry 
with  the  hope  "May  Almighty  God  bless  you,  and  prepare  for 
you  that  blessed  kingdom,  where  strife  and  cunning,  and  the 
machinations  of  wicked  men  are  unknown/' 

In  a  petition  sent  to  Rome  in  185 1,  recommending  the  es- 
tablishment of  new  dioceses  in  Australia,  Archdeacon  McEn- 
croe  gave15  a  somewhat  novel  explanation  of  the  dispute  in 
Tasmania.   It  was  the  opinion  of  this  worthy  priest  that 

If  Irish  Bishops  be  appointed  for  these  new  Vicariates,  I 
have  no  doubt,  Most  Holy  Father,  but  they  will  soon  find 
priests  to  assist  them,  and  those  thousands  of  souls  will  receive 
the  Holy  Sacraments,  who  are  now,  literally,  perishing  for 
want  of  anyone  to  break  to  them  the  Bread  of  life.  Even  many 
children  remain  without  Baptism.  If  an  Irish  Bishop  had  been 
appointed  for  Hobart  Town,  I  think  the  dissensions  and  scan- 
dals that  have  taken  place  from  the  dispute  between  Monseig- 
neur  Willson  and  Father  Therry  would  have  been  avoided, 
and  that  religion  would  be  there  in  a  much  better  state  than  it 
is  at  present.  Unfortunately  the  Irish  and  English  characters 
are  very  different  in  their  nature,  and  when  any  difference  takes 
place  between  an  English  Bishop  and  an  Irish  priest,  then 
national  antipathies  and  mutual  distrusts  spring  up,  and  pre- 
vent a  proper  understanding,  and  thus  perpetuate  bad  feelings. 
In  my  opinion  very  few  Englishmen  know  how  to  guide  or 
govern  Irishmen,  whether  lay  or  ecclesiastical. 

This  remarkable  petition  continues  in  a  strain  completely 
foreign  to  the  benignity  and  broad-minded  zeal  that  usually 
characterized  the  work  of  Father  McEncroe.  It  was  per- 
fectly clear  through  every  phase  of  the  long  struggle  that 
"national  antipathies"  neither  caused  nor  prolonged  the  Tas- 
manian  dispute.  As  Dom  Birt  has  written,16  "The  dispute 
between  the  Bishop  of  Hobart  Town  and  Father  Therry 
had  nothing  whatsoever  to  do  with  any  antagonism  of 
nationality;  it  was  purely  formal  and  financial;  and  the 
best  proof  of  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  disagreement  existed 

15  Cardinal  Moran,  p.  779. 

16  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11.,  182. 


A    GREAT    BISHOP  251 

equally  between  Dr.  Willson  and  Dr.  Polding,  both  English- 
men. Had  an  Irishman  been  Bishop  of  Hobart  Town,  and 
had  he  viewed  the  situation  in  the  same  light  as  did  Dr.  Will- 
son,  the  dispute  between  himself  and  Dr.  Polding  would  hardly 
have  been  ascribed  to  their  difference  of  nationality,  it  could 
not  have  been  as  regards  himself  and  Father  Therry."  Bishop 
Willson  and  Father  Therry  had  the  cause  of  the  Australian 
Church  too  deeply  at  heart  to  find  time  for  old  world  grievances 
and  distinctions  of  nationalities.  Their  common  priesthood 
provided  a  higher  form  of  nationality. 

Thus  ended  one  of  the  saddest  happenings  in  the  history 
of  the  Church  in  Australia.  It  is  wonderful  that  these  years 
of  strife  did  not  endanger  the  welfare  of  the  Church  in  Tas- 
mania. The  evil  effect  was  not  widespread ;  it  affected  only 
a  few  individuals ;  and,  although  the  vitality  of  the  Church  was 
impaired,  succeeding  years  of  peace  brought  renewed  vigour 
to  the  stunted  growth. 

Throughout  the  quarrel  it  can  be  seen  that  each  opponent 
acted  in  good  faith.  It  was  this  good  faith,  and  an  exaggerated 
adherence  to  fixed  intentions,  that  made  the  dissensions  so 
lasting  and  so  strenuous.  Dr.  Willson  was  one  of  the  greatest 
men  in  the  history  of  Tasmania.  His  advice  was  sought  by 
Governments,  and  he  received  their  congratulations  for  his 
efforts  on  behalf  of  the  convicts  both  in  and  out  of  Tasmania, 
and  for  his  valuable  assistance  in  drafting  the  Lunacy  regula- 
tions of  the  mainland.  He  was  a  strong-willed  man,  to  whom 
compromise  was  a  word  unknown. 

Father  Therry's  attitude  throughout  the  dissensions  was 
at  least  inexpedient,  even  though  it  can  be  defended  from  the 
standpoint  of  justice.  He  was  supported,  to  some  extent,  by 
the  advice  of  Dr.  Polding  and  Father  McEncroe.  He  had  the 
sympathy  of  the  people  of  Hobart  and,  often,  the  unexpressed 
sympathy  of  the  clergy.  The  final  decision  was  in  his  favour. 
His  consistent  advocacy  of  his  claim  is  indicative  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man.  The  trials  to  which  he  submitted  for  so  many 
years  were  colossal.  He  was  treated  as  a  dishonoured  man,  and 


252  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

reduced  to  a  state  of  poverty ;  even  his  books  were  seized,  and 
his  property  sold  to  satisfy  his  creditors.  But,  as  it  was  a  fight 
for  justice  to  others,  he  never  winced.  He  was  suspended  and 
refused  permission  to  say  Mass,  or  to  attend  the  sick.  Father 
Kelsh  remembers  how  the  suspended  priest  knelt  in  some 
hidden  part  of  the  organ  gallery,  morning  after  morning,  in 
the  church  which  he  had  built,  but  in  which  he  was  not  allowed 
to  offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice;  and  how  little  children  would  vie 
with  one  another  to  kneel  beside  the  priest  whom  their  parents 
had  told  them  to  love.  Them,  at  least,  he  could  safely  call 
his  friends. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

An  old  man,  broken  with  the  storms  of  state, 
Is  come  to  lay  his  weary  bones  among  ye. 

— Shakespeare. 

For  two  years  after  the  arrival  of  Bishop  Willson  Father 
Therry,  as  we  have  seen,  continued  to  reside  in  Tasmania. 
It  was  only  then  that  he  realized  the  futility  of  remaining  as  a 
suspended  priest  in  the  island ;  and  Dr.  Polding,  who  had  sum- 
med up  the  situation  correctly,  appointed  him  to  Melbourne, 
in  the  hope  that  his  absence  from  Tasmania  might  give  both 
parties  an  opportunity  for  calmer  consideration. 

Father  Therry  was  not  a  stranger  to  Melbourne.  He  had 
visited  the  new  township  on  his  way  to  Tasmania  in  1838,  when 
he  had  been  instructed  by  Dr.  Polding  to  secure  sites  for 
schools,  churches  and  burial-grounds.  On  Easter  Sunday  of 
the  following  year  a  petition  was  drawn  up  by  the  Catholics 
of  the  township,  asking  for  the  services  of  a  permanent  Pastor, 
and  on  15  May,  1839,  Father  Patrick  Bonaventure  Geoghegan 
was  appointed.  Father  Geoghegan's  work  prospered  beyond 
all  expectations,  and  in  spite  of  the  most  bigoted  opposition. 
When  in  1846  he  was  granted  leave  of  absence,  his  successor 
found  the  Faith  firmly  established,  and  a  fine  church  (St. 
Francis')  already  built.  Father  Therry  arrived  in  Melbourne  in 
the  latter  half  of  the  month  of  August,  1846. l  His  appointment 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  as  locum  tenens;  he  was  made 
Parish  Priest,  and  received  the  charge  of  the  colony  on  October 
4  from  the  hands  of  the  departing  Father  Geoghegan. 

At  the  time  of  Father  Therry's  arrival  in  Melbourne  strong 
racial  antagonism  prevailed  there.  The  Orange  Society  was  a 
militant  body.  On  the  12th  of  the  July  before  his  arrival  Irish- 
men and  Orangemen  had  met  in  open  warfare.  A  few  weeks 
later  a  meeting,  presided  over  by  Father  Geoghegan,  was  held 
to  secure  funds  for  relieving  the  distress  caused  by  the  great 


1  Port  Phillip  Herald,  August  25.  1846. 


253 


254  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

famine   in    Ireland.     The   Argus   report    of   the   meeting   is 
unique : — 

We  are  not  in  possession  of  any  of  the  details  of  the  pro- 
ceedings, which  we  would  most  willingly  have  chronicled,  but 
we  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to  adventure  our  own 
life,  or  ask  a  reporter  to  imperil  his,  by  attending  such  a 
meeting.  2 

On  23  August,  at  a  further  meeting  for  the  same  object, 
Father  Therry  was  present,  and  was  voted  to  the  chair. 

Father  Therry  was  a  man  of  peace.  When  he  fought  he 
fought  relentlessly,  but  never  on  any  issue  other  than  ecclesi- 
astical. Because  Macquarie  and  Darling  had  opposed  the 
Church  of  which  he  was  the  guardian,  he  engaged  them  in 
open  and  bitter  combat.  Because  Bishop  Willson  had,  in  his 
opinion,  acted  unjustly  in  matters  of  ecclesiastical  discipline 
and  common  justice,  Father  Therry  opposed  him,  and  even 
during  his  stay  in  Melbourne  was  in  the  midst  of  that  struggle. 
Outside  the  ecclesiastical  sphere,  in  the  region  of  politics,  he 
was  a  "pacifist."  He  had  definite  opinions  on  all  political  issues, 
but  he  seldom  stated  them  in  public.  His  reluctance  to  iden- 
tify himself  with  any  public  movement  of  a  sectional  nature 
can  be  seen  in  a  letter  of  his  to  the  Secretary  of  St.  Patrick's 
Society,  declining  an  invitation  to  their  dinner3  (St.  Patrick's 
Society  was  a  union  of  all  sympathizers  with  Ireland,  and  was 
not  confined  to  members  of  the  Catholic  Church) : — 

My  dear  Sir, 

As  an  apology  for  my  apparent  neglect,  I  beg  to 
say  that  I  have  had  particular,  and  I  trust  good,  sufficient  rea- 
sons for  postponing  the  acknowledgement  (in  writing)  of  the 
receipt  of  your  polite  note  of  the  5th  instant,  conveying  to  me 
an  invitation  from  the  Society  of  St.  Patrick  to  dine  with 
them  this  evening  at  the  Queen's  Theatre. 

These  reasons,  I  may  be  permitted  to  say,  have  been  purely 
and  exclusively  religious,  and  of  course,  in  no  way  connected 
with  politics  or  personal  interest. 

I  mention  these  circumstances  to  prevent  the  possibility 

a  Argus,  August  14,  1846. 

3  Cf.  an  article  by  Francis  Mackle  in  the  Melbourne  Advocate. 


FATHER   THERRY    IN    MELBOURNE  255 

(a  very  remote  one)  of  your  suspecting  me  of  any  want  of 
deference  or  respect,  either  for  you  personally,  the  committee 
or  its  constituents,  and  have  to  add  that  I  am  reluctantly  pre- 
vented by  the  same  motives,  from  having  the  pleasure  and 
honor  I  should  derive  under  different  circumstances,  from 
accepting  the  invitation,  for  which,  however,  I  feel  exceed- 
ingly grateful. 

On  October  i,  1846,  Father  McEncroe  informed  Father 
Therry  that  Father  Cavanagh  had  been  appointed  assistant 
priest  for  the  Melbourne  parish.  "I  request,"  he  wrote,  "that 
he  will  under  your  guidance  do  all  he  can  to  forward  the  in- 
terests of  Father  Matthew's  Branch  Society  in  Melbourne." 
The  "Father  Matthew"  Society  was  a  flourishing  concern  in 
Melbourne,  and  Father  Therry  was  the  more  interested  in  its 
welfare  because  he  was  a  close  friend  of  the  great  Irish  Apostle 
of  Temperance.  Father  Cavanagh  relieved  his  superior  of 
much  of  the  arduous  work  of  the  mission  by  undertaking  the 
superintendence  of  the  country  districts.  An  interesting  side- 
light is  thrown  upon  the  relations  of  the  two  priests  by  a  letter 
from  one  of  Father  Therry's  intimate  friends  (Mrs.  O'Sulli- 
van),  who,  after  mentioning  Father  Therry's  complaint  of  ill- 
health  and  the  nervous  debility  which  was  now  fastening  upon 
him  (the  result  of  the  Hobart  litigation),  continues: — 

It  occurs  to  me  that  you  should  not  now  give  way,  after 
all  you  have  suffered.  Almighty  God  will  assist  you.  I  fear 
the  climate  of  Port  Phillip  is  not  the  best  for  your  tender  eyes ; 
if  you  do  not  already  wear  them  you  should  procure  green 
glasses,  such  as  Father  McEncroe  wears.  I  am  glad  you  have 
such  good  assistance  in  your  fellow  labourer.  His  brother,  who 
is  about  to  be  removed  from  Goulburn,  was  rather  uneasy 
about  his  brother,  as  some  one  told  him  that  you  were  cross. 
I  said  if  you  were  so,  it  must  have  been  since  I  knew  you.  I 
mentioned  this  to  Dr.  Gregory,  and,  he  said,  no  doubt  you 
would  see  that  those  with  you  did  their  duty. 

Our  sympathies  are  with  Father  Cavanagh,  since  we  know 
what  was  Father  Therry's  idea  of  a  priest's  duty.  Not  many 
men  possessed  so  great  a  store  of  energy. 

In  Port  Phillip,  as  in  every  parish  where  he  had  been,  he 


256  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

won  the  love  of  the  people.  The  letters  and  diary  tell  intimate 
stories  of  the  sorrows  and  joys  of  his  parishioners.  Whatever 
difficulty  needed  settlement,  to  this  open-hearted  priest  the 
people  came.  One  man  in  Williamstown  had  a  wife  who  did 
not  show  him  the  respect  due  to  a  husband.  He  saw  no  other 
way  of  correcting  her  than  to  send  her  to  Father  Therry,  with 
a  note  the  contents  of  which  were  unknown  to  her.    It  read: 

"Please  to  impress  on  the  bearer,  Mrs. ,  the  necessity  and 

importance  of  acquiescing  in  the  will  and  pleasure  of  her  hus- 
band in  matters  conducive  to  our  mutual  good.    Excuse  this 

liberty  and  the  bother.    Your  humble  servant  ."    It  was 

always  the  same.  Disputes  over  land,  petitions  for  the  release 
of  a  prisoner,  or  for  assistance  to  a  widow  or  orphan,  all  came 
to  him.  Someone  wrote  of  him,  "He  sat  with  the  breviary  in 
the  right  hand,  and  his  left  delving  in  and  out  of  his  pocket 
for  alms  to  the  endless  train  of  beggars  who  called  upon  him/' 
A  historian  of  early  Melbourne,  who  knew  him  personally, 
gives  a  picturesque  account  of  Father  Therry's  minis- 
trations : — 

During  his  stay  in  Melbourne  his  missionary  labours  were 
incessant,  and  any  one  that  could  have  seen  him,  as  I  have, 
domiciled  in  the  inconvenient  four-roomed  brick  cottage,  then 
constituting  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Francis',  working  unrest- 
ingly  through  both  day  and  night,  and  giving  up  body  and 
soul  in  promoting  the  spiritual  salvation  of  his  flock,  would 
wonder  how  the  small,  spare,  human  machine  could  have  phy- 
sical endurance  for  half  the  material  and  mental  toil  it  passed 
through.4 

The  period  of  his  residence  in  Melbourne  was  short.  On 
2  April,  1847,  Father  McEncroe  informed  him  of  the  return 
of  Father  Geoghegan,  "who  has  been  appointed  to  succeed  you 
at  Melbourne.  He  will  be  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
CofTey  and  Kenny.  Have  the  kindness  to  inform  Mr.  Kava- 
nagh5  that  his  services  are  no  longer  required  for  any  portion 
of   this   mission.     Hoping   to    see   you    soon    at    Sydney.     J. 

4  Finn's  Chronicles  of  Early  Melbourne   (1835-1851),  pp.   141-2. 
0  Both  spellings  are  used  by  contemporaries. 


PRESS    EULOGIES  257 

McEncroe."   The  press  was  not  backward  in  its  praises.   The 
Herald  said: — 

The  Very  Rev.  Mr.  Therry,  with  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Kava- 
nagh  and  Walshe,  are  to  leave  this  province,  the  former 
gentleman  having  at  his  own  request  obtained  permission  to 
visit  Van  Diemen's  Land  for  the  purpose  of  transacting  some 
business  of  a  private  nature.  The  other  gentlemen  are,  it  ap- 
pears, to  proceed  to  Sydney.  We  cannot  allow  the  Very  Rev. 
Mr.  Therry  to  leave  our  shores  without  bearing  testimony  to 
the  indef atigability  with  which  he  performed  the  arduous  duties 
of  his  cure  here;  ever  on  the  foot  both  day  and  night  to  ad- 
minister the  rites  of  his  church  when  called  upon;  always 
ready  with  an  open  hand  to  alleviate  the  sorrows  of  the  desti- 
tute and  the  bed  of  sickness,  the  venerable  man  might  in  truth 
be  said  to  experience  little  rest  of  body  or  mind.  His  de- 
votional duties  were,  too,  unceasing.  It  would  be  quite  super- 
fluous for  us  to  expatiate  at  any  length  upon  the  character 
and  services  of  Mr.  Therry,  as  there  is  not  a  nook  of  New 
South  Wales  or  Van  Diemen's  Land  which  has  not  for  the 
last  twenty  years  re-echoed  with  narratives  of  his  good  works.0 

The  Total  Abstinence  Society  was  not  backward  in  eulogy. 
"Brief  as  your  stay  has  been  amongst  us,"  wrote  their  secre- 
tary, "your  affable  demeanour,  Christian  benevolence  and 
unaffected  piety  have  awakened  sentiments  of  esteem  in  our 
breasts  which  absence  or  time  can  never  obliterate."  In  reply 
he  said: — 

Some  years  have  elapsed  since  first  1  resolved  for  the  sake 
of  those  committed  to  my  spiritual  charge,  to  abstain  from  the 
use  of  all  intoxicating  liquors ;  and,  it  is  now  to  me  a  great 
pleasure  to  avow  that  I  have  derived  highly  important  advan- 
tages in  the  discharge  of  my  pastoral  duties  from  the  adopt- 
ing of  a  resolution  so  perfectly  in  accordance  with  the  advice 
given  by  the  Wise  Man,  where  it  is  said,  "Let  the  milk  of  the 
goats  (in  contradistinction  to  inebriety  and  expensive  wines) 
be  enough  for  thy  food  and  for  the  necessities  of  thy  house." 
To  appreciate  as  you  are  pleased  to  do  the  services  I  have  been 
able  to  devote  to  your  society  is  creditable  to  you  as  it  is 
gratifying  to  me.  Inconsiderable  as  those  services  have  been, 
in  this  instance,  you  only  do  me  strict  justice  in  believing  that 

8  Port  Phillip  Herald,  March  30,  1847. 

22 


258  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

they  were  most  cheerfully  rendered  and  as  the  performance 

of  a  most  agreeable  duty 

That  our  most  merciful  and  omnipotent  Lord  may  give 
to  the  glorious  cause  for  which  you  are  associated  as  well  as 
to  those  who  faithfully  endeavour  to  promote  it  His  most 
gracious  blessing ;  and  to  all  and  each  of  you  collectively  and 
separately,  courage,  strength  and  perseverance  to  wage  the 
holy  war  in  which  (as  a  corps  of  fourteen  hundred  valiant 
men)  you  are  now  happily  engaged,  without  compromise  or 
intermission,  against  an  enemy  more  insidious,  cruel,  and  des- 
tructive than  any  of  the  tyrants  who  have  from  time  to  time 
desolated  by  the  sword,  cities,  kingdoms  and  empires — the 
demon  of  intemperance,  shall  be  the  fervent  and  constant 
prayer  of  your  affectionately  devoted  servant, 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

On  21  April,  1847,  he  sailed  for  Tasmania,  in  the  hope  of 
settling  his  difficulties  with  Bishop  Willson.  His  efforts,  how- 
ever, were  unsuccessful.  He  returned  to  Sydney,  and  by 
August  of  that  year  had  taken  up  residence  as  priest  in  charge 
of  the  parish  of  Windsor.  Windsor  possessed  only  a  church 
and  a  school,  whose  scholars  numbered  23  boys  and  25  girls. 
For  a  considerable  time  after  his  arrival  he  was  compelled  to 
use  the  sacristy  of  the  church  as  lodgings.  But  he  did  not  com- 
plain, as  he  expected  soon  to  leave  Windsor  for  another 
journey  to  Hobart.  As  priest  of  Windsor  he  had  to  supply  at 
Richmond;  and  on  27  April,  1848,  he  asked  the  Archbishop 
to  take  steps  to  erect  a  church  at  this  township.  "As  there  is 
no  place  in  Richmond  in  which  Divine  Service  can  be  con- 
veniently performed,  it  is  desirable  that  Your  Grace  would 
avail  yourself  of  the  earliest  opportunity  to  apply  to  the  Gov- 
ernment for  means  to  provide  a  temporary  chapel  and  school 
house,  or  at  least  one  house  for  both  purposes  in  that  locality." 
Ic  was,  however,  not  until  1859,  when  Father  Therry  was  in 
Balmain,  that  the  foundation  stone  was  laid.  On  May  1,  1859, 
the  parish  priest  of  Windsor  wrote  (in  reply  to  a  letter  of  the 
Archbishop)  :  "I  have,  in  conformity  with  your  Grace's  letter, 
published  that  the  Very  Rev.  Father  Therry  would,  as  your 
Grace's  representative,  open  solemnly  and  bless  at  1 1  a.m.  next 
Wednesday  the  Catholic  church  at  Richmond.   Father  Therry, 


ST.    ANNE'S    CHURCH  259 

as  your  Grace's  representative,  shall  be  received  with  every 
mark  of  respect." 

In  the  month  of  September,  1848,  Father  Therry  was 
again  in  Hobart,  where  he  remained  for  more  than  five  years, 
occupied  (as  has  been  narrated  in  the  last  chapter)  with 
the  disputes  over  the  finances  of  St.  Joseph's.  Early  in  1854 
he  returned  to  Sydney,  and  in  March  was  staying  with  Mr. 
Dalley,  father  of  William  Bede  Dalley.  On  the  30th,  however, 
he  wrote  to  Mr.  O'Sullivan  from  St.  Mary's: — 

....  The  Attorney  General  has  purchased  a  large  man- 
sion to  which,  as  I  am  informed  on  unquestionable  authority, 
Mr.  J.  O'S.  would  be  exceeding  welcome  as  long  as  he  might 
wish,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  to  remain  in  Sydney.  A 
sleeping  apartment  having  been  prepared  for  me  in  this  es- 
tablishment I  removed  from  Mr.  Dalley's  to  it  on  last  Mon- 
day evening.  His  Grace  the  Archbishop7.  .  .  .  my  old  and 
very  dear  friend  the  Archdeacon  [McEncroe]  .  .  .  the  above 
Revd.  Gentlemen  have  all,  without  exception,  been  very  kind 
to  me  since  my  return  to  this  City. 

For  the  next  twelve  months  he  was  allowed  to  do  as  he 
pleased,  and  the  Therry  papers  for  this  period  show  that  he 
spent  a  good  deal  of  the  time  in  travelling  through  country 
districts  that  had  been  familiar  to  him  in  less  happy  circum- 
stances long  ago.  But  it  was  evident  that  the  strain  of  the 
troubles  in  Tasmania  had  begun  to  affect  his  physical  strength ; 
the  quick  and  impulsive  step  was  slackening,  though  the  mind 
was  still  alert  and  full  of  plans. 

In  Concord  parish,  about  eight  miles  out  of  Sydney,  he  had 
a  block  of  thirty-three  acres  in  a  rapidly  growing  settlement. 
As  far  back  as  1841  he  had  intended  to  build  a  church  there, 
raising  funds  (according  to  the  Chronicle  of  7  September, 
1841)  by  offering  a  half-acre  allotment  "to  each  of  twenty 
persons  who  shall  respectively  subscribe  £25  to  the  building  of 
the  church  of  St.  Anne's,   Maryborough."8    This  scheme  he 

T  The  text  of  the  draft  in  the  Loyola  Archives  is  here  very  obscure. 

8  This  is  the  church  now  known  as  St.  Anne's,  Enfield,  just  east  of 
Cook's  River.  The  name  "Maryborough"  seems  to  have  been  a  provi- 
sional one  of  Father  Therry' s  own  invention ;  the  variant  "Maryville" 
occurs  among  his  manuscripts. 


260  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

now  revived,  though  with  an  alteration  in  the  financial  ar- 
rangements; and  in  the  press  of  1854  the  Concord  land  received 
frequent  notice.  On  26  March  the  Freeman's  Journal  con- 
tained a  full-page  advertisement  of  a  sale  of  the  land,  adding 
a  note  that  Father  Therry  was  giving  twenty  acres  of  it  to  St. 
Mary's.  On  20  May  another  advertisement  announced  that  33 
acres  had  been  sold  for  £3,466 ;  and  on  29  July  the  foundation 
stone  of  "the  church  of  St.  Ann's  at  the  Bark  Huts"  was  laid 
by  Dr.  Murphy,  Father  Therry  celebrating  Mass  in  a  tent 
close  at  hand.  The  building  of  St.  Anne's  seems  to  have  been 
left  entirely  to  its  founder,  to  whom  all  accounts  for  expenses 
were  forwarded.  They  are  now  among  the  Therry  papers.9 

Until  May,  1856,  his  life  was  mainly  a  series  of  journeys, 
although  we  gather  from  a  letter  of  Father  McEncroe's  that 
he  was  nominally  attached  to  St.  Patrick's.  In  the  earlier  part 
of  1855  he  was  at  Goulburn  and  Queanbeyan,  and  gave  a  bell 
to  the  Goulburn  church.  .When  in  Sydney  on  week  days  he 
said  Mass  at  North  Shore ;  and,  learning  in  this  way  the  needs 
of  that  district,  became  an  ardent  advocate  for  the  building  of 
a  church  at  St.  Leonard's.  On  27  December,  1855,  he  was  an- 
nounced to  lay  the  foundation  stone  of  a  new  church  at  Parra- 
matta  South. 

In  May,  1856,  he  settled  down  again — and  for  the  rest  of 
his  life — to  parish  work,  taking  charge  of  the  parish  of  St. 
Augustine  of  Canterbury  at  Balmain.  This  was  not  an  easy 
mission  to  work.  Cockatoo  Island — a  far  journey  for  an  old 
man — was  part  of  it;  and  he  was  frequently  compelled 
to  petition  for  repairs  to  some  stone  steps  on  the  shore, 
which  had  to  be  used  by  the  public  on  its  way  to  the  island. 
In  the  Catholic  Almanac  for  i860  official  statistics  of  the 
parish  are  given  as  follows : — 

Balmain ;  St.  Augustine's : — Very  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  Arch- 
priest.    On  vSundays,  Mass  at  9  and  II,  with  instruction  at 

9  The  inconvenience  to  the  builders  of  leaving  all  arrangements  in 
Father  Therry's  zealous  but  inexperienced  hands  is  pleasingly  illus- 
trated in  a  letter  from  one  of  the  contractors  given  in  Appendix  A, 
No.  58. 


FATHER    THERRY   AT    BALMAIN  261 

each.  Catechetical  instructions  at  3.  Evening  Services  with 
Benediction  and  Sermon  at  7.  On  week  days  Mass  at  7,  in 
winter  at  7J.  Rosary  every  evening  at  7,  and  on  Friday  with 
Benediction.  Confessions  are  heard  on  Friday  and  Saturday 
evenings  and  Sunday  mornings,  and  whenever  persons  present 
themselves.  Catholics  about  350.  Weekly  communicants 
about  15. 

As  chaplain  in  charge  of  the  parish  he  received  from  Gov- 
ernment a  yearly  salary  of  £266  13s.  4d. ;  but  the  sum  hardly 
supplied  the  calls  of  the  poor  and  needy  who  frequented  his 
house. 

The  school  at  Balmain  was  under  the  charge  of  Mr. 
Lovatt.10  Among  the  many  recollections  of  Father  Therry's 
friends  the  most  picturesque  refer  to  his  love  for  children 
— who  knew  of  it,  and  returned  it.  People  still  living  remember 
how  children  meeting  him  in  the  street  would  go  down  on  their 
knees  to  ask  his  blessing;  or  how  he  might  be  seen  helping 
some  ragged  daughter  of  a  hard-worked  laundress  to  carry 
home  a  basket  of  clothes.  It  is  the  same  throughout  New  South 
Wales  and  Victoria,  and  in  Tasmania — the  old  folks  who  now 
remember  him  so  well  were  the  little  children  whom  he  had 
loved.  Mendicants,  too,  had  not  forgotten  his  unquestioning 
charity  in  the  early  days ;  and  their  demands  were  so  frequent 
that  he  arranged  with  a  Balmain  grocer  to  supply  a  certain 
quantity  of  food  to  anyone  who  should  present  a  paper  signed 
by  him,  the  expense  being  paid  by  himself  monthly. 

He  was  a  constant  visitor  to  Sydney.  Many  remember  him 
carrying  his  lantern  to  light  his  way  up  the  steep  hills  to  and 
from  the  ferry.  In  Sydney  there  was  one  supreme  attraction 
that  brought  back  memories  of  his  struggles  against  popular 
opinion  in  the  first  years  of  his  mission.  Then  he  had  been 
vilified  for  attempting  to  build  a  church  "larger  than  would 
be  required  for  a  century."  In  1856  that  church  was  no  longer 
a  dream;  it  was  the  worthy  cathedral  of  a  great  Archbishop. 
He  could  not  live  much  longer,  and  he  wished  to  see  the  work 

30  Soon  after  Father  Therry's  arrival  he  was  instructed  that  Mr. 
Richard  Leahy  was  to  be  appointed  to  the  charge;  but  Mr.  Lovatt 
does    not   appear   to    have    departed. 


22a 


262  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

completed.  On  29  August,  1856,  he  wrote  to  Abbot  Gregory : — 

My  dear  Lord  Abbot, 

Anxious  that  the  Cathedral  Church  of  St.  Mary 
should  be  speedily  enlarged  and  decorated  in  the  magnificent 
style  contemplated  by  His  Grace  the  Archbishop,  I  do  myself 
the  honor  to  offer  through  you  a  subscription  for  that  purpose, 
of  two  thousand  pounds  (£2,000),  on  condition  that  the  in- 
habitants of  Sydney  or  of  the  Colony  subscribe  for  the  same 
purpose,  within  six  months  from  the  8th  of  September  next, 
four  times  as  much  (£8,000)  either  in  cash  or  by  promissory 
notes  payable  within  twelve  months  from  that  date. 

This  generous  promise  was  not  successful  in  obtaining  the 
£8,000.  It  served  another  purpose,  however,  by  expressing  in 
a  practical  way  his  love  for  the  Archbishop,  who  was  harassed 
on  every  side  by  secret  petitions  to  Ireland  and  Rome,  urging 
a  change  in  the  administration  of  the  archdiocese.  And  Dr. 
Polding  did  not  overlook  the  generosity  of  the  priest  whose 
dispositions  were  so  akin  to  his  own.  Father  Therry  had  never 
sought  public  recognition  of  his  work ;  but  it  is  strange  that  no 
one  in  the  colony  had  ever  suggested  it.  The  Archbishop  at  last 
remembered.  Among  the  Therry  papers  of  1858  there  is  a 
memorandum:  "I  have  had  the  honour  to  be  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  Archpriest,  with  jurisdiction  over  the  clergy  of  the 
City  of  Sydney  and  its  environs,  and  precedence  immediately 
after  the  Vicar  General,  by  His  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Syd- 
ney, at  the  conference  of  the  clergy,  held  in  St.  John's  Church, 
Campbelltown.', 

When  Cardinal  Newman  received  the  news  of  his  elevation 
it  was  not  so  much  the  honour  itself  that  gave  him  pleasure 
as  the  assurance  that  he  was  no  longer  under  a  cloud  at  Rome. 
Amd  Father  Therry,  while  he  delighted  in  the  distinction  con- 
ferred for  his  long  services,  valued  it  most  because  it  meant 
his  triumph  after  years  of  bitter  and  prolonged  conflict,  his 
passage  from  an  overcast,  storm-beaten  day  to  an  unclouded, 
peaceful  evening.  He  may  have  exaggerated  the  privileges 
attached  to  his  new  title,  but  no  harm  was  done ;  and  it  would 
be  hypercritical  to  grudge  the  fine  old  warrior  any  satisfaction 


A   GENEROUS    GIFT  263 

he  could  gain  from  his  much-delayed  reward.  It  was  for  him, 
moreover,  a  new  proof  of  his  beloved  Archbishop's  affection. 
And  as  a  thank-offering,  in  further  proof  of  his  own  reciprocal 
affection,  he  waived  all  conditions  about  his  promise  to  St. 
Mary's,  and  handed  over  the  £2,000  eagerly  to  aid  in  beautify- 
ing the  Cathedral  he  loved. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Thou  dost  thy  dying  so  triumphally. 

— Francis  Thompson. 

His  love  of  fight  had  not  become  weaker  with  the  advance  of 
old  age.  The  indomitable  spirit  of  the  early  twenties  was  as 
alive  as  ever.  Whenever  the  Church  or  its  doctrines  were  at- 
tacked, Father  Therry  could  not  rest.  In  July,  1858,  the 
Governor  (Sir  William  Denison)  in  a  public  speech  referred 
to  the  loss,  in  the  different  Churches,  of  the  first  fervour  of 
Apostolic  times.  His  mention  of  the  Catholic  Church  did  not 
please  Father  Therry,  who  wrote  a  rejoinder,  and  had  it  pub- 
lished in  the  Sydney  Morning  Herald  (July  26)  : — 

Balmain,  7th  July,  1858. 
The  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry  most  respectfully  begs  leave  to  state 
to  Sir  Wrilliam  Denison,  K.C.B.,  Governor-General,  &c,  that 
he  read  late  last  night  in  the  columns  of  the  Sydney  Morning 
Herald  (the  Times  of  these  colonies,  with  regard  to  the  ability 
with  which  it  is  conducted  and  the  extent  of  its  circulation) 
a  report  of  a  learned,  eloquent  (and  with  one  exception  only) 
an  admirable  and  universally  useful  lecture,  that  had  been 
delivered  the  previous  evening,  by  his  Excellency,  to  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Society  in  the  large  school-room, 
Castlereagh-street ;  and  that  he  wishes  most  earnestly  to  solicit 
his  Excellency  to  re-consider  that  portion  of  the  lecture  that 
forms  the  exception,  as  it  contains  in  direct  terms  an  unjust, 
because  utterly  unfounded,  charge  against  the  Church  of 
Rome,  the  doctrines  of  which  are  identical  with  those  of  the 
one  holy  Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church,  in  every  known  part 
of  the  whole  world.  In  making  this  statement  the  writer  does 
not  presume  to  imagine,  even  for  a  moment,  that  his  Excel- 
lency would  deliberately  assert  anything  whatever,  either  in 
public  or  private,  that  he  believed  might  infringe  on  the  pre- 
cincts of  either  justice  or  truth ;  but  it  appears  evident  to  the 
mind  of  the  writer  that  this  mistake  on  the  part  of  the  deeply 
learned  and  highly  distinguished  lecturer  has  been  owing, 
principally,  if  not  exclusively,  to  the  circumstance  of  his  hav- 
ing derived  his  knowledge  of  Catholic  doctrines  from  Protest- 
ant associations  and  Protestant  authors.    To  facilitate  a  re- 


264 


THE  VERY  REVEREND  ARCHPRIEST  THERRY 
(From  an  oil  painting  at  St.   Patrick's  College,  Manly) 

To  face  p.   264. 


GOVERNOR    DENISON'S    DEFENCE  265 

consideration  of  this  all-important  subject,  Mr.  T.  begs  per- 
mission most  respectfully  to  submit  to  his  Excellency  a  reprint 
of  a  very  brief  but  lucid  and  well-written  tract,  from  the  pen 
of  an  English  barrister,  on  this  subject,  and  who  had  pre- 
viously directed  to  it  his  most  serious  and  diligent  attention. 

J.J.T. 

The  letter  was  followed  by  a  long  hymn  for  children,  which 
he  had  written  in  Hobart,  and  by  a  double  column  containing 
the  "Sixty  Reasons,"  copies  of  which  had  been  reprinted  by 
him  in  booklet  form  and  widely  distributed.  The  Governor 
replied : — 

Government  House,  12th  July,  1858. 

My  dear  Father  Therry, 

I  am  sorry  that  there  is  anything  in  my  lecture 
to  which  you  object.  I  really  think,  however,  that  on  reading 
it  a  second  time  you  will  perceive  that  the  Church  of  Rome 
only  comes  in  for  her  share  of  the  blame,  which,  in  my 
opinion,  attaches  to  every  section  of  the  Christian  Church — 
of  having  fallen  far  short  in  her  practice  of  the  pattern  set 
before  her  by  the  early  Church.  You  yourself,  whatever  you 
may  allege  of  the  Doctrine  of  the  Church  of  Rome  (of  which, 
I  may  observe,  I  have  said  nothing  in  my  lecture),  will  hardly 
maintain  the  different  congregations,  either  in  the  colony  or 
elsewhere,  exhibit  in  their  conduct  any  similarity  to  the  pic- 
ture which  I  have  drawn  of  the  early  Church. 

I  return  you  the  "Sixty  Reasons  in  favour  of  the  old  re- 
ligion." The  only  part  which  has  my  cordial  approval  is  the 
"Hymn  for  Children"  on  the  cover,  which  breathes  a  truly 
Catholic  and  loving  spirit — a  spirit  which  it  is  my  earnest  wish 
and  prayer  should  animate  us  all  in  our  relation  to  God  and 
our  Brethren. 

Thinking  thus,  I  will  not  enter  upon  the  matters  in  dispute 
between  our  Churches,  but  will  pray  you  to  believe  that  my 
faith  is  founded  upon  conviction,  and  that  it  is  my  earnest 
hope  that  we  may,  neither  of  us,  be  found  wanting  in  the 
great  day,  when  we  shall  be  called  upon  to  appear  before  God. 
Till  when,  I  trust  you  will  allow  me  to  consider  myself, 

Your  sincere  Friend, 

W.  Denison. 

Father  Therry's  interests  were  beginning  to  widen,  and  to 
include  Public  Education  and  Transportation  ;  while,  in  connec- 


266  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

tion  with  some  contemplated  Divorce  legislation,  he  arranged 
that  a  petition  signed  by  seventy-five  representative  Catholic 
parishioners  of  Balmain,  protesting  against  Government  inter- 
ference with  the  Divine  law  of  marriage,  should  be  forwarded 
to  Parliament: — 

To  the  Honorable  the  Legislative  Council  in  Parliament 
Assembled.  The  Humble  Petition  of  the  undersigned  Clergy- 
man and  Residents  in  the  district  of  Balmain  sheweth:  That 
they  have  heard  with  great  regret  and  alarm  that  a  bill  has 
been  introduced  into  your  Honorable  House,  under  the  title 
of  The  Matrimonial  Causes  and  Divorce  Bill,  providing  that 
in  certain  cases  persons  may  obtain  a  dissolution  of  marriage. 

That  your  Petitioners  earnestly  deprecate  the  passing  of 
a  law  which  they  feel  convinced  will  be  attended  with  great 
social  and  moral  evils  to  the  people  of  the  colony  at  large, 
and  which  has  not  been  called  for  by  any  expression  of  public 
opinion. 

That  although  there  may  be  judicial  separation  a  mensa 
et  thoro  for  sufficient  cause  between  man  and  wife,  yet  the 
marriage  tie  is  regarded  by  the  great  body  of  Christians  as 
indissoluble,  and  that  it  would  be  both  dangerous  and  unwise 
to  facilitate  or  sanction  its  violation  by  any  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature. 

For  these  reasons  your  Petitioners  humbly  pray  that  the 
Bill  may  not  pass  into  law. 

The  Archpriest's  forebodings  of  evil  are  justified  by  the 
statistics  of  our  crowded  divorce  courts  sixty  years  after  his 
death. 

Another  interesting  protest  of  his  concerned  the  Maori 
war  that  began  in  i860 : — 

My  dear  Governor-General, 

Whilst  celebrating  the  Divine  Mysteries  this 
morning  at  the  Altar  of  the  Church  for  the  enlargement  of 
which  Your  Excellency  and  Lady  Denison  were  the  first  con- 
tributors, an  idea  occurred  to  me  to  which  I  am  forcibly  im- 
pelled to  give  utterance,  viz :  that  of  all  the  Governors  (talented 
as  they  are)  of  these  Southern  British  Colonies,  you  are  the 
best  qualified  to  devise  and  recommend  such  measures  to  Her 
Majesty's  Government  and  to  the  local  Government  of  New 
Zealand  as  might  be  best  calculated  to  re-establish  peace  per- 
manently in  that  Province  on  just  and  equitable  terms.   Should 


INTEREST    IN    THE    MAORIS  267 

Your  Excellency  during  your  voyage  to  Melbourne  determine 
upon  what  conditions,  reasonable  I  know  they  would  be,  you 
would  recommend  that  the  insurgents  should  be  again  received 
into  favor  and  protection,  and  send  those  conditions  for  the  im- 
mediate consideration  of  the  local  Government,  I  would  cheer- 
fully consent,  in  the  event  of  their  adoption,  by  co-operating 
subordinately  with  a  distinguished  Catholic  Prelate1  with 
whose  Friendship  I  have  been  for  many  years  honored  and 
who  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  exercised  as  a  Bishop  juris- 
diction in  that  Colony,  to  endeavour  and  I  trust  successfully 
without  any  remuneration  whatever  to  secure  their  cheerful 
reception  by  at  least  a  majority  of  the  New  Zealand  Chiefs. 

In  1863  he  was  still  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Maori 
peoples,  and  asked  Sir  John  O'Shannassy,  of  Melbourne,  to 
petition  the  different  Australian  Governments  on  their  behalf. 
Sir  John's  reply,  a  document  of  ten  pages,  gives  a  complete 
review  of  the  disaffected  state  of  New  Zealand  and  the  case 
for  and  against  the  Maori  insurrectionists,  and  expresses  his 
despair  of  any  success  by  mediation,  "except  with  Him  whom 
Father  Therry  offers  daily  at  his  altar." 

When  Father  Therry  came  to  Balmain  he  found  a  small 
church  already  built.  It  was  soon  too  small  for  the  growing 
population.  In  the  letter  to  Governor  Denison  just  quoted, 
the  Archpriest  recalls  that  the  Governor  and  his  wife  were  the 
first  subscribers  towards  the  cost  of  enlarging  the  church. 
They  gave  ^5.  The  cost  of  enlargement  was  £157  17s.  6d.,  and 
subscriptions  amounted  to  ii59-  The  old  church  of  St.  Augus- 
tine of  Canterbury  is  still  standing,  as  solid  as  when  it  was 
built.  For  many  years  it  served  the  purpose  of  a  school,  and 
now  is  used  as  a  meeting  hall.  A  more  imposing  edifice  has 
taken  its  place,  to  accommodate  a  Catholic  population  ten  times 
a?  numerous  as  the  parishioners  of  1864. 

Many  anecdotes  are  told  of  the  old  stone  church.  From 
its  altar  the  Archpriest  preached  to  his  people,  Sunday  after 
Sunday,  his  simple  and  instructive  sermons.  On  each  anniver- 
sary of  his  arrival  in  Australia,  an  old  resident  of  Balmain 
relates,  he  would  have  a  number  of  buns  blessed  and  distri- 


1  Bishop  Pompallier. 


268  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

buted  to  every  member  of  the  congregation.  The  narrator  still 
treasures  a  particle  of  bun  as  a  souvenir  of  the  Archpriest. 
Another  remembers  how  he  would  direct  the  altar  boys,  in  a 
voice  audible  to  the  congregation,  to  bring  the  cruets  or  to 
remove  the  book.  The  monthly  accounts  of  expenditure  show 
regular  payments  to  each  altar-boy  of  sixpence  per  week, 
taken  from  the  parochial  funds.  There  is  a  superstition 
among  the  few  survivors  of  the  olden  times  that  the  ghosts  of 
altar  boys  whom,  after  boxing  their  ears  for  some  misdemean- 
our, he  had  sent  out  into  the  cold  night  can  still  be  seen  sitting 
on  the  worn  steps  near  the  sacristy  door.  The  old  church  is 
full  of  memories.  In  it  the  pioneers  were  married ;  to  its  font 
they  brought  their  children  for  baptism;  and,  in  obedience  to 
+he  summons  of  the  little  bell  in  the  stone  belfry,  they  came  in 
their  hundreds  each  Sunday  to  assist  at  Holy  Mass. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  May  25,  1864,  the  bell  rang  out 
unexpectedly.  They  knew  it  was  a  summons,  for  it  was  not  a 
Sunday  morning;  they  answered,  wondering  why  they  were 
called.  They  learned  then,  for  the  first  time,  that  John  Joseph 
Therry,  their  priest  and  the  Apostle  of  Australia,  had  left 
them  for  ever. 

On  the  previous  afternoon  (Tuesday,  May  24)  he  had  at- 
tended a  levee  at  Government  House.  His  health  appeared  to 
be  as  good  as  ever,  as  he  chatted  with  Archdeacon  McEncroe 
and  the  assembled  guests.  After  his  return  to  Balmain  that 
evening  he  officiated  at  Benediction  in  his  church,  and  after- 
wards presided  at  a  meeting  to  inaugurate  a  branch  of  the  Guild 
of  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph — he  had  said,  a  few  days  earlier, 
that  he  would  die  content  if  the  Guild  were  established  in  his 
parish.  He  remained  at  the  meeting  until  ten  o'clock,  when  he 
returned  to  his  presbytery  and  retired  for  the  night.  About 
midnight  he  called  for  his  servant,  and  complained  of  cold.  But 
he  knew  that  a  greater  thing  than  cold  was  upon  him.  "Send 
for  Archdeacon  McEncroe"  he  said ;  and,  later,  "Tell  the  Arch- 
deacon that  I  am  seventy-three  years  old."  While  a  messenger 
was  on  his  way,  the  sick  man  asked  that  the  prayers  for  the 
dying  should  be  recited,  and  joined  in  them  with  a  confident 


DEATH    OF    FATHER   THERRY  269 

and  joyful  heart.  Then,  before  his  old  friend  could  reach  the 
bedside,  he  lay  back  calmly  and  died  without  a  struggle.  It 
was  fitting  that  the  life  of  the  great  missionary  should  be  active 
to  the  last.  From  the  day  of  his  arrival  in  Sydney  in  1820,  till 
the  day  of  his  death,  he  had  known  no  rest.  He  died  in  har- 
ness.2 

The  obsequies  were  thus  described  in  the  Freeman's  Jour- 
nal : — 

The  mortal  remains  of  the  venerable  and  venerated  Arch- 
priest  were  removed  at  five  o'clock  on  Thursday  afternoon 
from  the  Balmain  Catholic  Church,  where  they  had  been 
lying  since  the  previous  evening,  and  although  no  notice  had 
been  given  of  the  time  at  which  the  removal  was  about  to 
take  place  a  large  number  of  persons  followed  the  hearse 
to  St.  Mary's.  The  Very  Rev.  Dean  O'Connell  and  Father 
John  Dwyer  were  in  waiting  to  receive  the  body,  which  was 
carried  into  the  cathedral  through  the  principal  entrance 
facing  Hyde  Park.  The  whole  of  the  block  of  seats  in  the 
middle  of  the  transept  just  under  the  chandelier  had  been 
cleared  for  the  reception  of  the  coffin,  which  was  carried  up 
the  church  and  placed  on  trestles,  over  which  was  spread  the 
purple  pall  used  in  solemn  services  for  the  dead.  Having  been 
securely  placed  on  the  trestles,  the  lid  of  the  outer  coffin  was 
removed,  and  on  the  top  of  the  leaden  one  were  placed  a 
chalice,  paten  and  stole.  On  either  side  of  the  coffin  were 
three  lighted  wax  tapers  in  black  candlesticks,  and  the  whole 
of  the  sanctuary  and  the  pulpit  were  hung  with  black  cloth. 
At  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  a  solemn  dirge  was  chanted, 
at  which  His  Grace  the  Archbishop,  the  Very  Rev.  S.  A. 
Sheehy,  V.G.,  Very  Rev.  Archdeacon  McEncroe,  Very  Rev. 
Dean  O'Connell,  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Forrest,  Fathers  M'Carthy, 
Young,  Sheridan,  Crone,  Garvey.  Curley,  Ford,  and  Athy,  the 
Rev.  A.  Byrne,  and  Rev.  P.  Fitzpatrick  were  present  and 
assisted;  the  Cantors  being  Fathers  Quirk  and  John  Dwyer. 
The  space  surrounding  the  coffin  was  lined  by  the  members 
of  the  Holy  Guild  of  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph,  and  of  the 
Juvenile  Guild,  in  the  dress  of  their  respective  fraternities. 
The  whole  of  the  interior  of  the  church  was  filled  with  a  vast 
and  densely  packed  crowd,  assembled  to  show  their  respect 
to  the  memory  of  one  so  loved  and  respected  during  life,  and 

2  See  also  letter  in  Appendix  A,  No.  61. 


2; 


270  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

so  lamented  in  death.  The  church  was  open  during  the  whole 
of  the  night,  and  the  members  of  the  Holy  Guild  had  the 
privilege  granted  them  of  watching  the  body. 

At  eleven  o'clock  on  Friday  (yesterday)  morning  His 
Grace  the  Archbishop,  attended  by  the  clergy  and  assistants, 
entered  the  church  in  procession  and  took  their  seats  on  three 
sides  of  the  space  in  which  the  coffin  rested,  the  Archbishop 
occupying  a  chair  in  the  centre  at  the  east  end  of  the  coffin 
and  opposite  to  the  altar.  Matins  for  the  dead  were  then 
chanted,  after  which  a  solemn  Requiem  Mass  was  sung,  the 
Very  Rev.  S.  A.  Sheehy,  V.G.,  being  the  celebrant,  the  Rev. 
Paul  Fitzpatrick  deacon,  and  the  Rev.  Austin  Byrne  sub- 
deacon.  In  addition  to  His  Grace  the  Archbishop,  the  clergy 
present  were  the  Venerable  Archdeacon  M'Encroe.  Very  Rev. 
Dean  Rigney,  Very  Rev.  Dean  O'Connell,  Father  Keating, 
Father  Sheridan,  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Forrest,  Father  Young, 
Father  Powell,  Father  M'Carthy,  Father  Forde,  Father 
M'Alroy,  Father  Lanigan,  Father  M'Girr,  Father  Dwyer, 
Father  Athy,  Father  Quirk,  Father  Crone,  Father  Conway, 
Father  Curley,  and  Father  Garvey.  A  discourse  was  given 
by  Archdeacon  M'Encroe  on  the  life  of  Father  Therry,  but 
the  venerable  priest  was  so  much  affected  by  the  departure 
of  one  who  had  so  long  been  a  fellow-labourer  with  him 
that  he  had  not  long  commenced  when  he  found  himself  un- 
able to  proceed,  and  there  were  very  many  in  the  church  who 
shared  his  affliction. 

The  panegyric,  delivered  by  Archdeacon  McEncroe,  was 
the  outpouring  of  his  heart's  love  over  the  remains  of  one 
who  had  been  his  dearest  friend.  "If  the  occasion  be  a  source 
of  sorrow,"  he  said,  "it  is  also  a  source  of  consolation  and 
thanksgiving  to  a  merciful  Providence,  who  has  so  crowned 
the  labours  of  his  faithful  servant  with  abundant  fruit."  He 
traced  the  life  of  Father  Therry  from  the  time  of  his  volun- 
teering for  the  uncultivated  Australian  mission,  through  the 
arduous  work  in  a  vast  continent  committed  solely  to  his 
care,  and  pointed  triumphantly  to  the  completion  of  the  dead 
priest's  labours  in  the  vast  organization  of  the  Church  in  1864. 
"Father  Therry  has  certainly  kept  the  faith,"  he  concluded, 
"and  closed  a  long  and  laborious  life,  and  he  has  now  gone 
to  receive  his  promised  reward.  The  life  of  Father  Therry 
has  formed  so  important  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  colony, 


MONUMENT  TO  FATHERS   THERRY  AND   McENCROE  IN   ST.   MARY'S 

GROUNDS 


FATHER  THERRY'S  FUNERAL         271 

that  I  have  no  doubt  some  one  who  has  materials  at  his  com- 
mand will  undertake  before  long  a  full  and  satisfactory  history 
of  the  life  and  labours  of  the  first  missionary  priest  of  New 
Holland." 

During  the  days  and  nights  in  which  the  body  lay  exposed 
for  public  veneration,  the  Cathedral  was  crowded  with 
mourners.  All  classes  and  creeds  paid  their  last  respects.  It 
was  a  noble  tribute  to  his  memory  that  many  Protestants  were 
to  be  seen,  asking  intercession  for  the  soul  of  him  who  had 
been  a  friend  to  all.  The  funeral  was  representative  of  the 
Churches,  the  Government,  and  the  people. 

The  procession  started  a  little  before  n  o'clock,  and, 
passing  the  Immigration  Barracks,  went  down  King  Street 
into  George  Street,  where  it  turned  off  to  the  left,  and  slowly 
advanced  towards  the  cemetery.  Along  the  line  of  procession, 
nearly  every  house  and  place  of  business  showed  some  symbol 
of  mourning,  and  many  were  entirely  closed;  large  numbers 
of  people  also  lined  the  streets  for  almost  the  entire  distance, 
and  crowds  were  assembled  at  different  points.  Seen  from  the 
path  at  the  side  of  the  station  house,  near  the  Benevolent 
Asylum,  the  procession  as  it  made  its  appearance  on  the 
crown  of  the  opposite  hill,  near  Bathurst  Street,  and  slowly 
advanced  its  way,  the  effect  was  solemn  and  impressive  in  the 
extreme.  It  must  have  extended  quite  a  mile  and  a  half,  and 
was  certainly  the  most  numerously  attended  funeral  ever  seen 
in  Sydney. 

He  was  buried  in  the  old  Devonshire  Street  cemetery, 
where  at  a  later  date  the  remains  of  his  friend,  Archdeacon 
McEncroe,  were  also  laid  to  rest,  and  a  monument  bearing 
the  two  names  was  placed  over  the  vault. 

On  St.  Patrick's  Day,  1901,  the  remains  of  Fathers  Therry, 
McEncroe,  and  Power,  and  of  Archbishop  Polding,  were  re- 
moved to  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  where  (beside  the  body  of 
the  late  Archbishop  of  Sydney,  Cardinal  Moran)  they  lie  in 
the  crypt  under  the  altar  consecrated  to  the  Irish  Saints.  The 
monument  originally  erected  over  the  tomb  of  Fathers  Therry 
and  McEncroe  stands  now  at  the  corner  of  the  Cathedral 
grounds. 


272  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

After  Father  Therry's  death  many  suggestions  were  made 
for  the  perpetuation  of  his  memory.  Some  wished  for  a 
marble  bust;  others  proposed  a  permanent  bursary  in  St. 
John's  College.  But  the  only  recorded  recognition  of  his  work 
was  a  sum  of  £500  given  by  Mr.  Thomas  Maguire  to  Arch- 
bishop Vaughan  in  1881 : — 8 

133  Hay  Street,  Haymarket. 

My  Lord  Archbishop, 

I  have  for  some  time  felt  that  some  suitable 
memorial  to  the  late  Very  Rev.  John  Joseph  Therry,  Arch- 
priest,  should  be  placed  in  the  new  cathedral,  and  now  submit 
the  consideration  of  the  matter  to  your  Grace.  The  late  Arch- 
priest  was  the  founder  or  main  instrument  in  the  building 
of  the  old  church,  and  I  think  if  a  subscription  was  raised  for 
the  purpose  of  erecting  such  memorial  as  would  be  decided 
upon  by  your  Grace,  it  would  be  liberally  responded  to  by 
those  who  hold  the  memory  of  Father  Therry  dear.  I  desire 
to  see  such  a  work  accomplished,  and  enclose  your  Grace  a 
cheque  for  £500  towards  the  fund. 

I  remain,  my  Lord,  your  Grace's  faithful  servant, 

Thomas  Maguire. 

Archbishop  Vaughan  utilized  the  money  as  requested ;  but 
the  memorial,  even  to-day,  is  known  only  to  a  few.  "I  have 
proposed  to  Mr.  Maguire,"  the  Archbishop  said,  when  acknow- 
ledging the  gift,  "to  erect  a  Lady  Altar  in  the  Cathedral,  and 
to  allow  the  Lady  Chapel  to  be  fitted  up  as  a  memory  of  the 
great  and  good  Archpriest  Therry,  who  lives  so  green  in  Mr. 
Maguire's  memory,  and  no  doubt  in  the  memory  of  so  many 
more.  As  the  Cathedral  is  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
ii  is  but  fitting  that  there  should  be  a  Chapel  and  Altar  in  her 
honour;  and  now  the  friends — and  I  know  them  still  to  be 
very  numerous — of  the  great  Archpriest  will  be  able  to  per- 
petuate his  memory  in  the  most  graceful  and  beautiful  way 
possible  by  fitting  the  Lady  Chapel  of  the  great  Cathedral 
dedicated  to  St.  Mary  herself.  Any  persons  who  would  be 
glad  to  join  Mr.  Maguire  in  his  laudable  design,  if  they  will 

3  Quoted  by  Tames  T.   Donovan   in  the  Freeman's  Journal,  May  6, 
1920. 


FATHER   THERRY'S   TRUE    MEMORIAL  273 

send  their  donations  to  me,  will  have  their  wishes  fulfilled  to 
the  letter  in  the  spending  of  their  money  in  this  grand  object 
of  affection,  gratitude,  and  remembrance." 

A  greater  memorial  to  his  memory  than  any  that  could 
be  designed  by  architect  or  fashioned  by  sculptor  is  the 
Australian  Church  itself.  He  founded  it,  alone  and  unaided; 
he  spent  almost  every  day  of  his  missionary  life  in  building 
it;  when  he  saw  his  work  finished,  he  could  die. 

The  fairest  things  in  life  are  Death  and  Birth, 
And  of  these  two  the  fairer  thing  is  Death. 
Mystical  twins  of  Time  inseparable. 

The  younger  hath  the  holier  array, 
And  hath  the  awf  uller  sway : 

It  is  the  falling  star  that  trails  the  light ; 

It  is  the  breaking  wave  that  hath  the  might, 
The  passing  shower  that  rainbows  maniple. 

Is  it  not  so,  O  thou  down-stricken  Day, 
That  draws't  thy  splendours  round  thee  in  thy  fall? 

Thou  dost  thy  dying  so  triumphally. 

— Thompson. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Treasure  I  sought 

Over  land  and  sea, 

And  dearly  I  bought 

Prosperity. 

But  nought  that  I  gained 

On  land  or  Siea 

Brought  ever  a  lasting  good  to  me. 

— OXENHAM. 

During  the  early  years  of  the  settlement  at  Sydney  Cove, 
when  population  was  centred  in  the  township,  it  was  an  easy 
matter  to  secure  land  in  the  outlying  districts.  The  Governors 
were  very  willing  to  give  large  tracts  of  land  to  the  few  brave 
pioneers  who  were  industrious  enough  to  settle  and  work 
there.  The  worth  of  these  grants  at  the  time  lay  in  the  value 
of  possible  products;  otherwise  land  was  not  a  financially 
sound  investment.  Many  ticket-of-leave  men  and  free  settlers 
were  enabled  in  this  way  to  work  out  a  hazardous  existence. 
When  in  later  years,  worn  out  by  toil  and  poverty,  the  settlers 
were  about  to  die,  they  looked  round  for  one  whom  they 
respected,  to  whom  they  might  bequeath  their  properties. 
They  were  often  friendless.  The  stigma  of  penal  servitude  had 
left  them  pariahs.  But  Catholic  convicts  had  one  great  friend ; 
their  wills  frequently  made  him  heir  to  their  small  belongings. 
In  this  way  Father  Therry  became  possessed  of  many  prop- 
erties. 

Among  the  Therry  papers  are  many  such  wills,1  addressed 
to  Father  Therry,  to  be  delivered  immediately  after  death. 
The  testators  ask  him  to  act  as  executor,  to  give  them  a  decent 
burial  and  pay  their  small  debts,  and,  in  token  of  his  many 
kindnesses  to  them,  to  accept  ownership  of  their  various  small 
holdings. 

When  land  could  be  had  for  the  asking,  Father  Therry 
applied  for  grants  both  for  ecclesiastical  purposes  and  for 
himself.   Macquarie  and  Brisbane  were  liberal  in  their  grants, 

1  See  for  a  specimen  Appendix  A,  No.  43. 

274 


LAND    GRANTS  275 

considering,  no  doubt,  that  his  salary  (while  he  had  it)  was 
quite  inadequate  to  support  him,  to  pay  the  cost  of  long 
journeys  through  the  country,  and  to  satisfy  the  needs  of  his 
impoverished  flock.  In  one  letter  he  gives  a  reason  for  seek- 
ing means  other  than  his  salary: — 

I  have  lately  got  possession  of  70  acres,  and  his  Excell- 
ency has  been  pleased  to  order  700  acres  to  be  reserved  for 
me,  but  I  cannot  easily  procure  its  location.  I  know  not 
whether  I  may  consider  the  power  which  I  think  I  thus 
possess,  of  raising  my  income  by  legitimate  means  from  170 
to  500  pounds  stg.  per  annum,  to  be  an  advantage,  when  that 
power  has  not  been  or  is  not  likely  to  be  exercised.  My  diet 
and  lodging  may  be  procured  for  little  or  nothing,  but  it  is 
necessity  alone,  which  could  render  it  advantageous,  as  it  is 
invariably  more  convenient  and  agreeable  for  a  man  of  busi- 
ness, when  it  is  practicable  to  practise  the  virtue  of  hospi- 
tality himself,  than  as  I  have  always  been  obliged,  to  experi- 
ence it  from  others. 

The  holdings  of  which  he  became  possessed,  many  though 
they  were,  profited  him  but  little.  He  established  farms  and  a 
cattle  station;  but  none  ever  succeeded  in  paying  more  than 
would  keep  the  property  in  his  name.  His  big  ideas  for 
future  development  prompted  him  to  subdivide  the  larger 
tracts  of  land,  mapping  out  streets  and  parks,  and  giving 
ambitious  names  to  places  which  at  his  death  were  no  more 
than  unredeemed  bush.  To-day  the  land  is  valuable — but  it 
has  long  since  passed  away  from  the  possession  of  the  Church. 

From  the  papers2  left  by  him  we  can  locate  his  holdings 
at  various  places..  At  Campbelltown  he  had  a  farm  of  36 
acres,  for  which  in  1836  he  paid  £51.  In  1834  he  bought  for 
£20  a  wooden  house  and  an  allotment  of  ground  in  Pitt  Street. 
In  1835  he  sold  three  allotments  in  the  same  street  for  £1230; 
and  in  1837  he  sold  to  Susannah  Nash  a  block  of  ground 
(now  occupied  by  Way's  shop)  for  £1400.  Another  property, 
held  in  trust,  was  bounded  on  one  side  by  Erskine  Street  and 
on  the  other  by  the  waters  of  Darling  Harbour ;  another  was 

2  The   descriptions   of  properties,   etc.,   are  taken   from  the  original 
deeds,  and  from  lithographs  issued  prior  to  subdivision  and  sale. 


276  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

"that  parcel  of  land  situate  in  Sussex  Street,  bounded  on  the 
west  by  Cockle  Bay;"  and  another  was  in  Kent  Street.  He 
had  a  40-acre  farm  at  Middle  Harbour,  and  an  estate  of  100 
acres  at  Granville.  Many  of  these  properties  were  transferred 
from  private  owners,  so  that  no  record  of  them  can  be  found 
in  the  Lands  Department. 

An  interesting  property  was  one  at  Bong  Bong,  on  the 
Southern  line.  The  grant  was  originally  promised  to  Dr. 
Bergin,  but  at  his  request  was  transferred  to  Father  Therry 
on  April  7,  1838,  under  the  seal  of  Sir  George  Gipps.  This 
holding,  known  as  the  Wingecarribee  Swamp,  contained  1280 
acres.  Father  Therry  bought  the  land  from  Bergin  at  two 
shillings  per  acre;  in  later  years  he  had  scruples  about  the 
price,  and  in  his  will  directed  that  an  extra  3/-  per  acre 
should  be  given  to  Bergin  or  his  trustees,  because  the  land 
at  the  time  of  the  sale  was  worth  5/-  per  acre.  The  estate 
was  subdivided,  and  given  the  imposing  name  of  Andrew- 
burgh.  It  was  sold  by  public  auction  on  the  28th  of  November, 
1864,  after  his  death.  The  lithograph  describes  the  property 
as  a  large  tract  of  country  on  the  Kangaloon  Road,  divided 
into  farm  blocks,  with  a  reserve  of  300  acres  for  a  township. 
to  be  called  Andrewville,  with  due  provision  for  streets  and 
public  buildings.  On  the  13th  of  December,  1878,  the  auc- 
tioneer submitted  to  the  trustees  an  account  of  sales  to  that 
date;  855  acres  had  been  sold  for  £2792,  but  the  township 
allotments  were  unsold.  The  descendants  of  the  original 
buyers  still  occupy  the  land. 

At  Concord  he  owned  47  acres.  The  deeds  of  the  property 
are  almost  indecipherable;  but  we  learn  from  them  that  the 
grant  was  made  by  Governor  Bourke  in  1837,  in  fulfilment 
of  a  promise  made  by  Governor  Brisbane  in  1824.  The  land 
was  subdivided  in  the  fifties  as  already  described  (p.  260).  In- 
structions for  the  sale  of  the  remaining  portion  are  given  in 
Father  Therry's  will. 

In  the  county  of  Durham,  parish  of  Uffington,  Father 
Therry  owned  640  acres,  known  as  "David's  Vale."  This 
was  a  grant  made  to  him  by  Governor  Bourke  on  the  18th 


THE    BILLABONG  STATION  277 

of  February,  1837.  At  George's  River  another  grant  of  120 
acres  was  made  to  him  by  Governor  Bourke  on  the  8th  of 
August,  1837,  in  fulfilment  of  a  promise  made  by  Governor 
Darling  in  January,  1827. 

The  present  township  of  Lidcombe  is  situated  on  land 
originally  owned  by  Father  Therry,  and  some  of  the  streets 
and  subdivisions  of  the  township  bear  the  names  given  by 
him.  On  December  26,  1831,  he  bought  from  Patrick  Kirk 
60  acres;  in  1834  he  bought  160  acres  from  George  Sunder- 
land, and  on  December  27,  1833,  a  further  60  acres  from 
Patrick  Kirk.  The  whole  estate  was  then  known  as  the  "Therry 
Estate  at  Haslem's  Creek,"  and,  when  subdivided  by  him, 
was  called  "the  township  of  St.  Joseph  at  Liberty  Plains." 
The  land  was  sold  soon  after  his  death;  but  at  that  time  the 
estate  was  too  far  from  the  city  to  bring  any  great  price. 

In  December,  1836,  Father  Therry  applied  for  a  Govern- 
ment lease  of  land  at  "Billy  Bong,"  near  the  Ten  Mile  Creek 
in  the  Murrumbidgee  district.3  He  had  for  so  long  a  time 
been  deprived  of  a  Government  salary  that  the  need  for  money 
was  pressing.  His  many  benefactions  made  the  need  more  ur- 
gent. So  he  determined  to  put  cattle  on  a  Government  grant, 
and  under  the  supervision  of  a  hired  manager  to  augment  his 
income  by  cattle  raising.  Another  and  a  greater  reason  was 
that,  if  the  venture  were  successful,  he  would  be  enabled  to 
complete  St.  Mary's.  It  was  not  a  success.  Father  Therry  was 
too  much  occupied  with  parochial  work  to  give  the  station 
sufficient  attention.  He  placed  manager  after  manager  on 
the  holding,  but  all  were  either  incompetent  or  untrustworthy. 
The  northern  part  of  it  (which  still  retains  the  name  'Billa- 
bong')  he  sold  in  1848,  or  perhaps  earlier;  the  rest — now 
known  as  'Yarra  Yarra' — he  retained  until  1857,  al- 
though the  venture  had  long  proved  a  failure.  At  different 
periods  it  was  well  stocked:  in  1848  the  assessment  re- 
turns show  that  on  it  were  13  horses,  4000  head  of  cattle 
and  270  sheep.  When  in  Hobart  he  was  warned  that  the 
station  would  bring  about  his  insolvency.    In  1856  his  trusted 

3  See  Andrews'  First  Settlement  of  the  Upper  Murray,  pp.  151,  180. 


278  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

friend,  John  O'Sullivan,  wrote  that  his  agent  had  taken  some 
hundreds  of  cattle  to  Melbourne,  and  there  sold  them  for  his 
own  benefit.  Again  in  1862  one  of  the  priests  of  Melbourne 
(not  knowing,  apparently,  that  the  station  had  been  sold) 
wrote :  "A  gentleman  met  me  yesterday  in  Collins  Street,  and 
desired  me  to  write  to  you  without  delay,  and  warn  you  that 

Mr.  is  here  selling  off  the  cattle  from  your  run,  as  fast 

as  he  can He  feared  that  if  you  did  not  look  sharp  there 

would  be  but  little  left  for  you." 

Other  properties,  about  1500  acres  in  extent,  were  located 
at  Pittwater.  The  first  grant  was  "in  pursuance  of  a  promise 
made  by  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane,  and  granted  by  Governor 
Bourke  on  the  31st  August,  1833."  This  gave  him  1200  acres, 
having  boundaries  from  Narrabeen  Lake  to  Careel  Bay  to  the 
sea,  and  to  several  other  holdings  mentioned.  By  virtue  of  a 
promise  made  by  Sir  Richard  Bourke  in  1835  a  further  grant 
of  280  acres  adjoining  was  made  on  11  February,  1837.  In 
1836  he  purchased  from  private  owners  10  acres  at  the  head 
of  Narrabeen  Lagoon.  The  land  at  Pittwater  still  bears  the 
name  of  the  "Priest's  Flat."  Here  he  placed  Dr.  Bergin,  who 
superintended  the  cultivation  of  the  land;  and  the  foreshores 
produced  shells,  which  were  used  for  lime.  Father  Therry's 
nephew  recalls  how  shiploads  of  shell  were  sent  to  Sydney, 
and  there  sold. 

But  for  the  Pittwater  settlement  he  had  greater  ambitions 
than  mere  agriculture.  The  coal  seams  that  were  being  worked 
with  success  at  Newcastle  were  supposed  to  continue  through 
to  the  Illawarra,  and  it  was  possible  that  Pittwater  might  be  on 
the  route.  Accordingly  he  set  about  coal  mining.  His  nephew 
recalls,  with  some  indignation,  that,  although  there  were  many 
good  Irishmen  unemployed  in  Sydney,  his  uncle  employed  Ger- 
mans and  Italians  at  the  mine.  Many  men  were  engaged,  and 
the  expenses  mounted  high,  whilst  the  existence  of  coal  still 
remained  problematical.  After  Father  Therry's  death  the  trus- 
tees continued  the  work,  in  the  hopes  of  finding  a  rich  seam. 
Father  Dalton,  S.T.,  one  of  the  trustees,  wrote  to  his  solicitor 


THE    PITTWATER    GRANT  279 

on  October  18,  1877: — "We  carefully  perused  the  coal-mine 
lease,  and  have  signed  it  also.  We  have  perfect  confidence  in 
your  judgment."  In  the  next  month  he  asks,  "How  is  the  coal- 
mine getting  on?  Any  royalties  yet?"  In  1880  the  advertise- 
ment for  the  sale  of  the  estate  states  that  on  one  subdivision 
there  is  the  "Coal  Bore,  which  is  400  feet  deep."  The  coal- 
mine, like  the  Billabong  station,  proved  a  failure. 

At  the  end  of  1862  Father  Therry  contemplated  selling  the 
Pittwater  Estate.  The  scheme  of  subdivision  was  again  am- 
bitious. Mr.  Elyard,  the  Surveyor,  recommended  that  "a  suffi- 
cient portion  may  be  reserved  near  the  water,  and  possessing 
the  sea  breeze,  for  Public  Gardens  and  games;  and  also,  sites 
for  a  School  of  Arts,  Library,  Court  of  Justice  and  Christian 
churches.  I  trust  that  the  trees  near  St.  Michael's  Cave  may 
not  be  touched,  and  that  that  spot  may  not  be  interfered  with 
by  human  hands.  I  think  this  is  the  proper  way  of  establish- 
ing a  city  at  Broken  Bay,  and  I  shall  have  great  pleasure,  for 
my  own  part,  in  acknowledging  you  as  its  first  Bishop."  The 
plan  of  subdivision  was  eventually  drawn  up.  The  district  was 
to  be  called  Josephton,  and  the  township  Brighton.  The  land 
was  sold  in  May,  1880.  The  city  of  Brighton,  and  the  diocese 
of  Josephton,  may  come  in  the  future. 

Father  Therry's  will  is  an  interesting  document.  Among 
his  papers  are  a  dozen  such  documents,  each  one  made  as  new 
circumstances  arose.  Dr.  Polding  wrote,  after  the  Archpriest's 
death,  "his  amusements  seem  to  have  been  Will  and  Codicil 
making".  But  there  was  good  reason  for  so  many  wills.  They 
were  usually  drawn  up  when  he  was  about  to  go  on  some  long 
journey,  from  which  it  was  possible  that  he  might  not  return. 
On  the  22nd  of  October,  1832,  he  drew  up  a  will  which  read : — 

Being  about  to  proceed  to  Hunter  River,  and  my  health 
not  being  the  best,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  declare  by  this  memo, 
that  in  case  the  Lord  should  be  pleased  to  call  me,  that  I  wish 
all  my  property  be  sold,  and  that  from  the  proceeds  £500  be 
sent  to  Father  Matthew  of  Cork  for  the  benefit  of  my  mother ; 
the  remainder  to  .  .  .  St.  Mary's  Church  ...  to  establish  a 
college. 


280  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

In  1833  tne  reason  for  making  another  will  was  "being 
about  to  proceed  to  Norfolk  Island."  The  will  of  1836  is  in- 
teresting as  containing  the  first  mention  of  his  wish  to  have 
the  Society  of  Jesus  introduced  into  Australia.  "I  give  twenty- 
acres  of  Pittwater  Farm  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kenny,  S.J.,  or  to  the 
Provincial  of  his  Order  in  Ireland,  as  my  contribution  to  en- 
able him  to  establish  an  Ecclesiastical  Seminary  (of  SS.  Peter 
and  Paul)  and  a  lay  College  (of  St.  Joseph)  in  this  colony." 
Another  farseeing  bequest  was  "that  the  remainder  of  my 
property  be  expended  in  procuring  a  printing-press  to  be  under 
the  control  of  Dr.  Polding."  And  an  afterthought,  "the  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Jesus  to  have  first  selection  of  their 
land,  and  to  be  paid  immediately  after  my  mother." 

In  1838  he  made  another  will,  whilst  "labouring  under  the 
disease  that  has  recently  visited  us,  and  fearing  I  shall  be 

one  of  its  victims  (fiat  voluntas  Dei) I  desire  that 

£1500  sterling  be  given  to  the  improvement  of  the  Cathedral; 
£50  to  be  given  to  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Plobart;  and,  £350  to 
be  given  to  the  first  founders  of  a  Jesuit  College  in  N.S.W., 
and  £100  to  the  first  established  in  Hobart."  In  1840  a  similar 
will  was  made. 

The  final  will3  was  dated  March  19,  1857;  probate  was 
granted  on  July  26,  1864. 

I.  H.  S. 

M.  T. 

In  Nomine  Domini.     Amen. 

In  festo  S.  Joseph,  19th  March,  1857. 
Lest  my  most  gracious  and  most  merciful  Lord  should  be 
pleased  to  summon  me  to  appear  at  the  dread  Tribunal  of  His 
Divine  Majesty  before  I  shall  have  arranged  my  temporal 
affairs  or  have  made  a  formal  will,  I  hasten  on  the  night  of 
the  Festival  of  my  glorious  patron  Saint  to  make  the  following 
will : — Firstly  I  recommend  my  poor  soul  in  union  with  the  re- 
commendation of  my  most  dear  Redeemer  when  expiring  in 
His  last  most  bitter  agony  on  the  cross.  Secondly  I  hereby  ap- 
point his  honour  R.  P.  Therry  Esq.  one  of  the  Honourable  the 
Tudges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  Honorable  John  Hubert 
Plunkett  Esq.  President  of  the  Legislative  Council,  the  Vener- 

3  Probate  Office,   Sydney.      (Office  copy  number,  6085/1.) 


FATHER   THERRY'S    WILL  281 

able  Archdeacon  J.  McEncroe,  Rev.  R.  Walsh  of  Goulburn, 
and  John  O'Sullivan  Esq.  Commercial  Bank  Goulburn,  as 
my  Executors.  I  desire  in  the  first  place  these  gentlemen  to 
pay  from  the  proceeds  of  my  cattle  station  all  my  just  debts, 
amongst  which  I  consider  the  amount  of  difference  between 
the  sums  that  I  paid  for  the  land  at  Bong  Bong  to  Mr.  Michael 
Bergin  and  the  sum  at  which  the  government  sold  land  at  that 
time,  namely  five  shillings  per  acre,  as  I  gave  him  but  two  shill- 
ings per  acre  for  it.  The  difference  should  be  paid  to  his  repre- 
sentatives who  are  known  to  the  Messrs.  Fulton,  one  of  whom 
is,  or  has  recently  been,  a  member  of  Council  in  Tasmania. 
Having  paid  Francis  Allman  jun.,  Esq.  but  two  shillings  and 
sixpence  per  acre  for  his  order  of  location  for  640  acres,  he 
or  his  representatives  shall  have  the  benefit  of  a  similar  ar- 
rangement. Thomas  Kirk  of  Richmond,  from  whose  father  I 
bought  land,  is  to  receive  thirty  pounds  to  purchase  land.  An 
equal  sum  to  his  two  sisters,  if  alive,  that  is  to  each  of  them : 
if  not  to  their  representatives ;  which  latter  sums  should  be 
given  in  trust  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hallinan  who  should  take  care 
to  appropriate  a  reasonable  portion  of  it  to  have  masses  cele- 
brated for  them  and  their  deceased  parents.  As  one  of  the 
Executors  of  the  late  Thomas  Colgan  I  received  from  the  late 
Owen  Bowen  of  Molonglo  Plains  six  hundred  and  seventy 
five  pounds  sterling.  John  O'Sullivan  remitted  to  his  widow 
four  hundred  pounds.  He  has  promised  or  undertaken  to 
remit  another  hundred  to  her  representatives  as  soon  as  he 
shall  have  received  a  cheque  from  me  to  that  amount  and 
which  I  had  intended  to  send  him  long  before  this:  the  re- 
maining one  hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds  were  intended 
for  charitable  or  pious  purposes ;  and  I  do  think  the  best  use 
that  can  be  made  of  that  sum  is  to  send  it  through  J.  O'Sullivan 
Esq.  with  or  soon  after  the  one  hundred  pounds  for  the  bene- 
fit of  his  poor  relatives  to  the  Catholic  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
in  which  they  reside.  I  desire  that  my  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
formerly  known  as  Peter  Petitta's  farm  at  Pitt  Water,  which 
is  beautifully  and  most  advantageously  situated,  should  be 
divided  into  four  equal  parts  of  twenty  acres  each  which  are 
intended  as  the  sites  for  educational  establishments  for  the 
Benedictines,  Jesuits.  Franciscans,  and  the  French  Mission  of 
the  Propaganda  respectively.  To  orevent  any  undue  preference 
as  to  their  appropriation  the  Executors  are  authorised  to 
determine  the  matter  by  lots.  The  whole  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  allotments  at  Saint  Ann's,  Liverpool  Road,  are  to  be  ap- 
plied to  the  benefit  respectively  of   Saint  Mary's  Cathedral, 


282  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Sydney,  and  the  intended  church  of  Saint  Ann.  Bong  Bong 
farm  or  estate  has  been  divided  into  allotments  varying  from 
ten  to  forty  or  fifty  acres  with  a  reserve  for  a  township  of 
three  hundred  acres,  which  are  bounded  by  a  line  of  ten- 
acre  allotments:  only  two  adjoining  allotments  can  be  sold  at 
present  as  every  alternate  two  are  to  be  reserved  for  three 
years.  The  same  arrangement  is  required  to  be  adopted  with 
respect  to  the  quarter-acre  allotments  of  the  land  adapted 
for  townships.  My  brothers  and  sister  James,  Stephen,  and 
Jane  Ann,  are  to  receive  during  life  one  hundred  pounds  per 
annum  each,  my  sister  to  have  during  her  life  the  use  free  of 
rent  of  my  house  in  Hobart  Town.  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
pounds  for  the  purpose  of  having  masses  celebrated  with,  my 
intention  is  to  be  given  to  the  respective  superiors  or  Pre- 
sidents of  Carlow  College  and  two  other  colleges  in  Ireland, 
and  to  be  so  arranged  that  these  contributions  may  enable 
students  to  prepare  with  more  convenience  for  the  mission 
of  New  South  Wales.  To  prevent  mistake  I  have  to  repeat 
that  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  is  to  be  given  to  each 
college.  It  is  my  desire  that  my  Executors  should  take  care 
that  no  considerable  portion  of  my  land  should  be  sold  for 
the  next  three  years  and  only  such  small  portions  as  may  by 
their  sale  enhance  the  value  of  the  contiguous  land.  I  desire, 
without  the  slightest  want  of  respect  for  the  ecclesiastical 
authorities  of  this  colony,  that  Irish  Jesuits  and  they  alone 
should  have  the  management  of  the  whole  of  my  property 
for  the  purpose  of  appropriating  its  proceeds,  whether  of 
sales  or  rents  or  in  any  other  form,  for  religious,  charitable, 
and  educational  purposes.  It  is  now  eleven  o'clock  and  I  must 
retire  but  shall  in  the  name  of  our  most  merciful  Lord  sign 
this  document  before  T  do  so. 

John  Joseph  Therry, 

Balmain,  19th  March,  1857. 
In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  Testator  we  the 
undersigned  hereby  witness,  in  his  presence  and  in  the  presence 
of  each  other,  this  document  as  his  last  will  and  testament. 

Balmain,  20th  March,  1857. 

Witness :  James  Mullins. 

Ellen  Stan  field. 
Eliza  Mullins. 

In  Nomine  Domini. — Amen. 

M.J.J.A.M.I.M.M.A.S. 

CODICIL.     In   the    absence    of   the    Venerable    Archdeacon 

McEncroe  and  his  Honor  Mr.  Justice  Therry,  I  hereby  appoint 


CODICILS    TO    THE    WILL  283 

in  lieu  of  those  personages,  John  Hubert  Plunkett  Esq.  Q.C., 
and  the  Rev.  Doctor  Hallinan  Catholic  Pastor  of  Windsor,  as 
the  Executors  of  my  last  will  and  testament  on  this  19th  day  of 
September  A.D.  1859. 

John  Joseph  Therry,  A.P. 

I.H.S. 
M.J.LA.LD.T.A.A.A.M.M.L.P.T.A.M.A.A.T. 
CODICIL.  In  the  name  of  our  most  merciful  Lord. 
As  a  codicil  to  my  last  will  and  testament,  I  wish  to  certify  to 
my  Executors,  who  are  the  Honorable  John  Hubert  Plunkett 
Q.C.,  John  O'Sullivan  Esq.  Manager  of  the  Commercial  Bank 
Goulburn,  Mr.  John  Vardy,  Menangle,  Mr.  Patrick  Joseph 
Hogan  senior,  Balmain,  and  Mr.  John  Taylor,  commission 
agent  Parramatta,  that  it  is  my  wish  that  they  should  endeavour 
for  the  benefit  of  religion,  morality,  and  education,  to  carry 
out  or  give  effect  to  my  intentions  with  respect  to  the  land 
property  with  which  I  have  been  blessed,  namely  to  establish 
five  villages  which  are  likely  to  become  respectable  towns — 
the  principal  one  at  Pitt  Water  to  be  called  Josephton ;  the  next 
at  Williams  River  to  be  called  Laurenceton;  the  next  at 
George's  River  to  be  called  Georgeton ;  the  next  at  Cattai  Creek 
to  be  called  Alf redton ;  and  one  at  Bong  Bong,  the  last  but  not 
least,  Andrewville.  As  I  have  not  mentioned  the  name  of  Mr. 
James  Therry,  late  of  Waterford  now  of  Sydney,  in  any  will 
of  mine  as  a  legatee,  as  it  is  only  very  recently  that  I  have 
become  acquainted  with  him,  I  now  bequeath  to  him  fifty 
pounds  to  be  paid  to  him  by  my  Executors  above-named.  And 
I  hereby  confirm  my  last  will  and  the  codicil  to  it  with  the 
exception  of  the  Executorship  which  is  to  consist  of  the  above- 
named  gentlemen  alone. 

John  Joseph  Therry. 
Witness:  Maria  Hogan. 

Patrick  Joseph  Hogan  junior. 

T.N.D. 
M.I.I.A.I.M. 

I  hereby  solemnly  declare,  with  reference  to  any  testa- 
mentary documents  of  mine,  that  my  brothers  James  and 
Stephen  Therry,  the  former  of  Hobart  Town,  the  latter  of 
Cork,  Ireland,  and  my  sister  Jane  Ann  Therry  of  Hobart  Town, 
are  the  only  relatives  to  whom  I  could  conscientiously  bequeath 
any  portion  of  my  real  property,  and  even  to  them  only  such 
portion  of  it  as  may  secure  to  each  of  them  an  annuity  of 


2\ 


284  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

seventy-seven  pounds  during  their  natural  lives  respectively. 
To  James  Therry,  late  of  Waterf ord,  where  he  filled  the  office 
of  supervisor  of  the  revenue  department,  I  did  and  do  bequeath 
the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  sterling. 

John  Joseph  Therry,  A.P. 
Balmain,  20th  December,  1862. 

The  will  seems  to  have  given  Dr.  Polding  very  great  dis- 
appointment. His  affection  for  the  Archpriest  never  faltered 
during  his  life;  but  he  could  not  conceal  his  feelings  after- 
wards. In  a  letter  to  Abbot  Gregory  of  Downside  Abbey, 
dated  21  June,  1864,  he  wrote: — 4 

His  Will  is  the  queerest  jumble  imaginable.  All  the  lawyers 
in  N.  S.  Wales,  Plunkett  says,  can  make  nothing  of  it.  The 
only  excuse  he  can  give  for  Therry  is,  that  he  was  not  sane. 
Not  one  acre  or  one  penny  to  the  mission,  save  that  the  land 
at  St.  Anne's,  worthless  as  it  is,  is  to  be  sold  and  the  proceeds 
equally  divided  between  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Anne's.  £150  to 
three  colleges  in  Ireland  to  say  Masses  for  him,  but  at  the 
same  time  to  educate  priests  for  the  mission !  80  acres  at  Pitt- 
water  to  be  equally  divided  between  the  Jesuits,  Franciscans, 
Dominicans,  and  Benedictines,  and,  that  there  may  be  no 
jealousies,  they  are  to  take  their  portions  by  lot!  He  does  not 
bequeath,  though  I  suppose  he  intended  to  do  so,  but  "with- 
out intending  any  disrespect  to  the  local  Ecclesiastical  Au- 
thority," he  directs  that  the  Irish  Jesuits  are  to  have  the  en- 
tire management,  disposal,  etc.,  of  his  property.  He  leaves 
£  too  per  annum  annuity  to  his  brother  and  to  his  sister.  His 
ready  money  amounts  to. £3500.  Plunkett  is  bewildered.  He, 
O'Sullivan,  and  I  think  Hallinan  are  the  Executors.  Plunkett 
will  renounce  in  disgust.  O'Sullivan  will  be  the  only  one.  If 
the  Will  be  contested,  it  is  not  worth  a  straw.  His  amuse- 
ments seem  to  have  been  Will  and  Codicil  making.  In  one  he 
has  six  Executors,  one  the  son  of  Hugh  Taylor  of  Parra- 
matta.  In  another  he  hopes  Archbishop  and  Clergy  will  further 
his  wishes  and  help  his  Executors  in  founding  the  towns  of 
Josephton,  Laurenceton,  Alfredton,  and  Andrewville  on  his 
properties.  What  can  have  become  of  the  immense  sum  re- 
ceived for  the  Billyton  [sic]  Station,  £12,000? — wasted  I  fear 
in  sinking  for  coal  at  Pittwater  and  other  miserable  projects. 
Well,  peace  be  to  him!    You  and  I  are  not  disappointed:  I 

4  Benedictine  Pioneers  in  Australia,  11.,  287. 


INTERIOR   OF   ST.    MARY'S   CATHEDRAL 

(From  a.u  etching  by  Gay  field  Shaw) 

To  face  p.   284 


THE    FINAL   SETTLEMENT  285 

never  expected  to  benefit  by  his  Will;  but  I  did  not  expect 
such  a  proof  of  inanity  and  self-sufficiency.  Of  course  I 
need  not  add,  no  lawyer  had  anything  to  do  with  his  Will. 

Some  time  after  Father  Therry's  death  the  will  was  dis- 
puted. Father  Therry  had  nominated  five  trustees;  three  re- 
nounced their  office,  Vardy  died,  and  O'Sullivan  resigned  his 
trusteeship,4  appointing  Fathers  Dalton,  S  J.  and  Cahill,  S.J.,  in 
his  place.  Since  the  will  contained  no  devise  of  the  legal  estate, 
nor  any  express  power  of  sale,  the  way  was  open  to  dispute 
their  right  to  sell  the  property.  The  only  persons  entitled 
under  an  intestacy  were  Father  Therry's  brothers  and  sister. 
By  deed  of  July  8,  1865,  Stephen  Therry  conveyed  any  pos- 
sible interest  of  his  to  the  trustees  appointed  by  his  brother. 
On  September  18,  1867,  James  Therry  and  Jane  Ann  Therry 
acted  similarly.  In  1877  tne  case  came  up  for  judgment.  The 
executors  claimed  that  instructions  in  the  will  directing  the 
trustees  to  sell  part  of  the  estate  within  three  years,  and  part 
afterwards,  by  necessary  implication  gave  them  full  power 
to  dispose  of  the  legal  estate.  Judgment  was  given  accord- 
ingly, that  the  testator  imposed  on  his  executors  active 
duties  in  reference  to  his  real  estate.  This  made  them  trus- 
tees of  his  real  estate,  and  by  implication  vested  the  legal 
estate  in  them. 

Father  Therry's  admiration  for  the  Society  of  Jesus  is 
evident  from  his  bequests.  For  more  than  thirty  years  he  had 
hoped  for  their  coming  to  Australia.  His  bequest  to  them  of 
the  right  to  dispose  of  his  property  secured  them  some  assist- 
ance towards  founding  a  mission ;  and  Riverview  College,  and 
St.  Abysms'  College  at  old  St.  Kilda  House,  were  the  first 
fruits  of  his  generosity. 

At  Father  Therry's  death  his  personal  estate  was  entirely 
inadequate  for  the  many  charities  which  his  sympathetic  heart 
urged  him  to  assist.  The  land  was  of  no  great  value,  although 
of  considerable  acreage.  He  could  have  had  many  comforts 
in  his  last  years ;  but  he  died  as  he  had  lived,  a  man  poor  in 
spirit,  and  demanding  only  the  bare  necessities  of  life. 
4  See  letter  in  Appendix  A,  No.  62. 


24a 


286  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Note  on  the  First  Jesuit  Missionaries  in  Australia. 

Father  Therry's  papers  do  not  give  any  reason  for  his 
special  interest  in  the  Society  of  Jesus,  though  he  had  enter- 
tained hopes  (see  p.  217)  for  the  introduction  of  Jesuit  Fathers 
to  evangelize  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific.  The  following  par- 
ticulars, however,  may  be  of  interest  in  this  connection. 

The  Society  of  Jesus  was  founded  by  St.  Ignatius -Loyola, 
and  approved  of  by  Pope  Paul  III  in  1540.  After  more  than 
two  centuries  of  valuable  work — missionary  and  academic — 
the  Society  was  unjustifiably  suppressed  in  various  European 
countries.  In  1829  the  Society  was  restored  by  Leo  XII  in 
England,  and  from  this  date  continued  to  prosper  with  re- 
markable success.  In  Ireland  in  1776  there  were  24  members 
of  the  "State-suppressed"  Society;  in  1803  there  were  only 
two.  Others,  however,  came  to  Ireland,  and  it  is  possible 
that  during  his  stay  in  Dublin  Father  Therry  made  their  ac- 
quaintance, and  formed  an  affection  for  the  saintly  and  learned 
members  of  this  much  maligned  Society.  At  any  rate  he  could 
not  have  been  ignorant  of  their  worth,  since  Father  Peter 
Kenny,  S.J.,  was  in  those  days  known  as  one  of  the  most 
learned  and  eloquent  priests  in  Ireland.  The  impression  then 
made  on  his  youthful  mind  would  be  preserved  and  accentu- 
ated by  his  lonely  life  in  Australia. 

For  the  following  information  we  are  indebted  to  Father 
M.  J.  Watson,  S.J.  The  first  Jesuits  to  visit  these  shores 
were  members  of  the  Austrian  Province  S.J. — Fathers  Aloysius 
Kranewitter  and  Maximilian  Klinkowstroem — who  came  to 
South  Australia  on  8  December,  1848.  The  first  to  arrive  in 
Victoria  were  Fathers  Lentaigne  and  William  Kelly,  wTho 
came  in  1865 ;  Father  Joseph  Dalton  arrived  on  17  Septem- 
ber, 1866.  Father  Thomas  Cahill  (the  missionary  of  the 
Portuguese  Jesuits)  came  from  Macao  in  1872,  and  on  25 
July,  1872,  was  appointed  Superior  of  the  Irish  Mission  S.J. 
(Melbourne)  in  succession  to  Father  Joseph  Dalton.  Both 
these  priests  have  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
execution  of  Father  Therry's  will.  On  29  April,  1878, 
Father  Dalton  came  to  Sydney,  where  he  first  lodged 
at  an  hotel,  and  then  hired  a  small  cottage — built  partly  of 
kerosene  tins — on  the  North  Shore.  On  the  feast  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  (28  June,  1878)  he  bought  the  land  on  which 
Riverview  College  was  afterwards  erected. 

These  facts  do  not,  of  course,  supply  reason  for  Father 
Therry's  practical  interest  in  the  Society  of  Jesus:  but  the 
dates  given  may  throw  some  light  on  the  subsequent  adminis- 
tration of  his  property. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

I  have  fought  a  good  fight:  I  have  finished  my  course:  I  have 
kept  the  faith.  As  to  the  rest,  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
justice  which  the  Lord  the  just  judge  will  render  to  me  in  that  day. 

— II  Tim.  iv. 

One  of  the  most  noteworthy  and  valuable  tributes  that 
have  ever  been  paid  to  Father  Therry's  work  is  contained  in  a 
letter  written  after  his  death  by  the  Archbishop  of  Birming- 
ham to  Mr.  John  O'Sullivan.  No  other  person  had  had  such 
opportunities  for  forming  a  just  opinion  on  the  worth  of 
Father  Therry's  efforts.  As  Vicar  General  Dr.  Ullathorne 
had  stepped  into  the  position  held  by  Father  Therry  until 
1833.  The  account  already  given  of  his  relations  with  Father 
Therry  has  shown  that  the  Vicar  General  was  by  no  means  a 
partisan  of  the  priest  whom  he  supplanted.  But  in  1864,  as 
Archbishop  of  Birmingham,  he  could  look  back  with  a  more 
impartial  eye  over  the  long  years.  His  tribute  of  praise  is 
given  so  genuinely  and  deservedly,  and  includes  so  complete 
an  analysis  of  Father  Therry's  character — with  its  few  petty 
weaknesses  and  its  multitude  of  trumpet-tongued  virtues — 
that  it  may  well  be  given  a  place  here : — 

Birmingham, 
Augt.  24th,  1864. 
Dear  Mr.  O'Sullivan, 

I  thank  you  for  your  kindness  in  writing  to  me 
on  the  departure  of  our  old  friend  Father  Therry,  and  for 
remembering  that  it  would  interest  me  to  know  how  he  died 
and  how  he  disposed  of  his  affairs.  He  certainly  filled  a  long 
space  of  time,  and  went  to  his  reward  in  a  good  old  age.  What 
vicissitudes  he  had  seen,  and  what  changes  he  had  passed 
through.  A  life  of  him  would  embrace  the  entire  religious,  and 
most  of  the  civilized,  period  of  the  existence  of  New  South 
Wales.  And  when  we  look  back  to  that  long  and  harassing 
time  when  he  stood  alone,  and  without  even  the  support  and 
consolation  of  the  sacrament  of  penance,  and  in  those  pro- 
tracted years  had  never  even  once  the  opportunity  of  exchang- 
ing a  word  or  sign  with  a  brother  priest ;  it  is  marvellous  how 

,287 


288  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

he  kept  up  his  piety  even  to  tenderness,  and  never  omitted  his 
Mass  daily,  and  his  Rosary  daily,  under  whatever  circum- 
stances or  in  whatever  out  of  the  way  place  he  might  find  him- 
self in  at  the  moment. 

What  man  has  not  his  limitations  and  his  deficiencies  ?  We 
must  of  course  admit  those  of  our  departed  friend;  but  now 
is  the  time  to  recall,  and  thousands  must  have  done  so,  how 
he  really  kept  alive  the  faith,  set  the  example  of  piety  in  his 
own  person,  forced  on  the  authorities  the  religious  freedom 
of  the  Catholic  people,  and  even  by  his  excess  of  zeal  paved 
the  way  for  that  civil  and  religious  status  in  which  we  now 
find  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  Australian  Colonies.  The  bold- 
ness and  confidence  with  which  he  raised  the  walls  of  St. 
Marys'  Cathedral,  against  all  adverse  predictions,  was  one  of 
those  conspicuous  actions  by  which  he  strongly  arrested  atten- 
tion upon  the  Catholic  body,  and  fixed  its  position. 

It  was  a  trying  moment  for  him  when  he  found  his  posi- 
tion suddenly  superseded  by  a  young  man,  such  as  I  was  in 
1833 ;  but  his  faith  made  him  obedient,  and  though  in  moments 
of  excitement  he  was  somewhat  provoking,  yet  his  feeling 
passed  like  an  English  April  cloud,  and  it  was  soon  fine 
weather  again  between  us. 

I  observe,  as  was  to  be  anticipated,  that  the  respect  paid 
to  his  memory  at  his  funeral  came  from  all  classes,  and  could 
not  but  feel  a  special  interest  in  reading  so  many  old  names, 
which  seem  to  show  that  the  climate  of  the  colony  is  not  un- 
favorable to  longevity. 

It  only  remains  for  me  to  express  a  hope  that  you  will  be 
able  to  settle  the  affairs  of  our  old  friend  without  much  diffi- 
culty, and  that  his  intentions  towards  the  Church  as  well  as 
those  towards  his  relatives  will  be  satisfactorily  realized.  The 
newspapers  you  sent  me  contained  many  old  recollections,  such 
as  the  many  subjects  claiming  my  attention  are  apt  to  overlay. 
For  the  large  diocese  and  the  many  occupations  which  demand 
my  attention  are  not  favorable  to  reverie  in  the  past. 

I  beg  to  present  my  kindest  remembrances  to  Mrs.  O'Sul- 
livan,  who  must  deeply  feel  the  loss  of  one  who  was  to  her  a 
second  father,  and  my  best  wishes  to  all  your  family.  And 
whilst  I  pray  Almighty  God  to  bless  you  and  them. 

I  remain, 
Your  obliged  and  faithful  st.  in  Xt, 

>J<  W.  B.  Ullathorne. 


FATHER    THERRY'S    LIBRARY  289 

Father  Therry  was  not  an  accomplished  scholar.  He  left 
nothing  by  which  the  literary  world  might  remember  his  name. 
He  was  a  missionary ;  and  the  story  of  his  success  in  this  direc- 
tion has  been  told.  But  his  abilities  were  by  no  means  ordinary. 
His  dealings  with  Governors  and  officials  show  that,  united  to 
great  energy  and  zeal,  there  was  a  keen  brain  directing  these 
powers  towards  success.  His  courage  was  phenomenal.  Mac- 
quarie's  orders  of  1820  would  have  disheartened  anyone  other 
than  a  missionary  divinely  appointed  and  directed.  He  did 
not  ask  that  the  regulations  should  be  withdrawn:  he  replied 
that,  where  Government  regulations  attempted  to  override  the 
Divine  law,  it  was  the  duty  of  all  to  obey  the  higher  mandates. 
For  he  was  not  a  man  who  could  be  used  as  a  tool  by  autho- 
rities. He  would  act,  and  always  did  act,  as  his  conscience 
and  judgment  dictated. 

In  the  midst  of  his  many  duties  he  found  time  for  study 
and  a  careful  preparation  of  sermons.  Receipts  for  money 
paid  to  booksellers  in  London  and  Sydney  throw  an  interest- 
ing sidelight  on  his  character.  From  London  he  had  sent  to 
him  a  copy  of  Pliny's  Letters,  Xenophon's  Works,  Morell's 
Philosophy,  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  of  Edward  VI, 
and  Hebrew  and  Greek  Lexicons.  Another  list  contains  books 
enough  to  set  up  a  very  creditable  library  on  Apologetics  and 
Scripture.  There  are  the  Lives  of  the  Saints,  a  few  volumes 
treating  of  the  saintly  masters  of  Mystical  Theology,  the 
standard  authors  on  Moral  and  Dogmatic  Theology;  the  text 
of  the  decrees  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  and  its  Catechism: 
commentaries  on  the  Psalms  and  the  New  Testament;  and 
Lingard's  History  of  England  "exquisitely  bound  in  many 
volumes." 

A  curious  custom  of  Father  Therry 's  was  to  make  copies 
of  anything  that  pleased  him  in  his  reading.  He  copied  also 
to  make  him  remember  the  work  more  easily,  and  frequently 
foi  his  own  spiritual  advancement.  Among  his  papers  are  to 
be  found  notebooks  closely  written  in  his  own  handwriting, 
in  which  several  books  of  the  Old  Testament  are  copied ;  and, 
strangely  enough,  to  this  very  practical  missionary  it  was  the 


290  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

more  poetical  books  that  made  the  greatest  appeal.  From  the 
Vulgate  he  copied  the  Canticle  of  Canticles  and  the  Books  of 
Wisdom,  Proverbs,  and  Ecclesiasticus.  From  a  French  trans- 
lation he  copied  the  Gospel  of  his  patron,  St.  John.  Other 
notebooks  contain  long  extracts  from  French  and  English 
authors — especially  Pope,  for  whose  "Essay  on  Man"  he  had 
a  particular  fancy.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  he  found 
time  for  such  varied  reading. 

Then  there  were  the  official  reports  and  the  complaints 
to  Government.  Each  document  was  carefully  thought  out 
and  corrected,  and  the  final  copy  written  from  the  amended 
originals.  (It  is  mainly  from  these  originals  that  we  have 
quoted  throughout  this  biography.)  Everything  he  attempted 
he  tried  to  do  well.  This  was  the  secret  of  his  success.  If 
some  work  was  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the  growing 
Church,  he  must  find  ways  and  means  to  do  it.  If  he  decided 
to  do  it,  he  would  do  it  with  all  the  energy  he  could  command, 
and  would  not  desist  until  it  was  complete.  He  was  a  strong- 
willed  and  capable  man. 

When  he  came  to  Australia  he  was  hampered  in  his  work 
by  the  great  lack  of  religious  literature.  Government  provided 
it  for  the  Anglican  clergy,  but  his  request  for  a  like  favour 
was  refused.  Nothing  daunted,  he  set  to  and  compiled  a 
prayer-book  containing  all  that  was  necessary  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  his  people.  Small  tracts,  giving  in  simple  form  the 
fundamental  dogmas  of  Catholic  belief,  he  obtained  from 
abroad  and  had  reprinted  in  the  colony. 

The  children  who  were  growing  up  around  him  were  his 
most  cherished  care.  To  them  he  turned  when  the  miseries 
and  sin  of  the  convict-cells  began  to  dishearten  him,  and,  in 
them  he  saw  the  innocence  of  virtue  and  a  full-hearted  love. 
He  determined  to  save  them  at  all  costs  from  the  sin  that 
surrounded  them.  His  happiest  moments  were  with  them. 
They  all  knew  him,  and  called  him  their  friend.  He  returned 
the  compliment  by  publishing  some  hymns  of  his  own  com- 
position, dedicated  to  "The  Children,  by  their  devoted  Friend, 
John  Joseph  Therry."  These  were  first  published  in  book  form 


HYMNIST   AND    PREACHER  291 

at  Hobart  in  1846.  To  a  critical  and  uncharitable  eye  many 
of  them  may  seem  merely  doggerel.  To  one  who  knows 
the  life  of  their  author  they  have  a  wider  significance  that 
makes  them  worthy  of  admiration,  if  not  of  reproduction. 
The  hymns  supplied  a  long-felt  need  to  a  colony  far  removed 
from  European  civilization.  They  were  written  and  pub- 
lished, not  because  of  any  poetical  merits,  but  because  he  had 
condensed  in  each  little  poem  the  teachings  of  the  Church  on 
a  chosen  subject.  For  the  children  he  wrote  a  hymn  in  twelve 
stanzas,  the  first  three  of  which  are : — 

Teach  me,  clearest  Lord,  to  pray: 

What  I  should  think,  what  I   should  say, 

That  I  may  praise  Thee  night  and  day, 

That  my  every  thought  and  word  may  be 

A  pleasing  sacrifice  to  Thee. 

May  Thy  love,  then,  my  heart  so  raise, 
Disgusted   with   all   sinful  ways, 
With  benediction,  thanks  and  praise, 

Above  whate'er  on  earth  we  see, 

That  it  may  ever  live  with  Thee. 

May  the  Spirits  who  rejgn  above, 
O'ershadowed  by  that  mystic  Dove, 
Who  breathe  and  live  upon  this  love, 

Unite  with  us  in  praising  Thee, 

Ever  glorious  Trinity. 

He  also  wrote  hymns  for  the  feasts  of  Saint  Joseph  and 
his  other  Patron,  Saint  John.  Other  verses  contain  a  sum- 
mary of  the  teaching  of  the  church  on  the  Purification  and 
the  Assumption;  there  are  also  two  Josephian  hymns  and  a 
long  poem  in  honour  of  St.  Michael. 

But  Father  Therry  was  more  at  ease  in  the  pulpit  than  in 
the  poet's  chair.  This  was  his  work,  and  as  such  required 
masterly  handling.  For  preaching  he  was  singularly  well 
equipped.  His  theological  knowledge  was  sound,  though 
not  profound.  His  reading  and  wide  experience  supplied 
fuller  material  for  instruction  than  is  available  to  the 
average  preacher.  He  had  made  a  study  of  the  works  of  the 
French  preachers  Bourdaloue  and  Massillon,  from  whom  he 
frequently  quoted.   He  was  gifted  with  a  quiet  and  easy  man- 


292  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

ner  and  a  voice,  even  in  his  old  age,  penetrating  and  pleasing. 
Sunday  after  Sunday,  and  frequently  on  week  days,  he 
preached  his  simple  unadorned  discourses,  mostly  on  dogmatic 
subjects.  But  the  ferverino  was  there  also,  as  some  who  heard 
him  testify.  When  time  allowed,  he  wrote  out  his  sermon,  but 
did  not  preach  it  verbatim.  More  frequently  he  thought  out 
the  subject  and  preached  from  a  brief  sketch.  Into  every  ser- 
mon he  brought  a  multitude  of  applicable  quotations  from  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  with  which  he  was  very  familiar.  For  a  ser- 
mon on  "Prayer,"  preached  in  the  Campbelltown  church,  the 
following  sketch  was  found  among  his  papers : — 

St.  Luke  18,  10-14;  (the  parable  of  the  Pharisee  and  the 
Publican). 

1.  The  different  results  of  their  prayer. 

2.  Prayer  is  always  good  when  accompanied  by  the  neces- 

sary conditions. 

3.  What  these  conditions  are 

4.  The    opposite    characters    of    the    Pharisee    and    the 

Publican : — 

a.  The  excellency  of  the  Pharisee's  character. 

b.  That  of  the  Publican  detestable. 

c.  The  opinion  we   should  have   formed,   if  con- 

stituted judges  of  their  prayers. 
"As  the  heavens  are  above  the  earth,  so  are  my  ways, 
saith  the  Lord,  above  your  ways,  and  my  thoughts  above 
your  thoughts.' 

There  are  a  directness  and  a  simplicity  in  all  his  written 
sermons  that  show  both  complete  knowledge  of  the  subject 
treated  and  determination  to  make  his  congregation  under- 
stand it  equally  well. 

Father  Therry  was  a  capable  Spiritual  Director.  The  work 
of  a  Director  varies  according  to  the  spiritual  state  of  those 
who  place  themselves  under  his  care.  In  the  later  years  of 
Father  Therry's  life  he  was  the  Director  of  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Vincent's  Convent.  Nor  were  his  services  available  only  to 
the  religious ;  many  letters  are  profuse  in  thanks  for  his  assist- 
ance in  guiding  distressed  souls  into  a  more  tranquil  state  of 
mind.   These  letters  show  how  many  reprobates  were  snatched 


Jg 

/A4.  fciftf 

'  11 


ST.   MARY'S  CATHEDRAL  AS   IT  WILL  APPEAR  WHEN  COMPLETED 

To  face  p.   291 


A   TOUCHING   LETTER  293 

from  the  profligacy  of  the  early  convict  days,  to  reach  later 
the  sanctity  of  a  Magdalen.  Names  well  known  to  history — 
those  of  barristers,  merchants,  statesmen — are  signed  to  let- 
ters whose  contents  show  that  the  writers  had  advanced  far  on 
the  road  towards  sanctity  and  perfection.  Among  the  poorer 
classes,  and  very  often  in  the  ranks  of  the  convicts,  that  same 
desire  for  perfection  is  frequently  shown.  From  a  man  on 
board  a  transport  ship  Father  Therry  received  this  touching 
appeal : — 

Reverent  father  in  shame  i  write  this  to  you  hoping  i 
will  get  some  Help  from  you  as  it  has  Been  more  than  Six- 
teen years  since  i  have  Been  to  confession  and  when  i  on  my 
Past  Life  and  Past  Confessions  i  cant  think  of  Leving  this 

Place  with  out  SPeaking  to  you  for  Rev nt  father  fear 

and  shame  has  kept  me  long  enough  from  the  Churchs  advice. 
Since  i  left  Last  time  i  have  got  a  nomber  of  good  Books  and 
thought  i  had  turned  very  much  But  now  i  see  it  was  only 
tempting  it  Was. 

On  Sunday  i  heard  you  at  Mass  i  could  not  Get  on  shore 
to  VesPers  or  i  should  have  been  at  the  same  counting  My  self 
not  fit  to  go  With  in  Hearing  of  the  Church  yard  But  what 
will  i  do  if  Not  Father  i  have  not  lost  hopes  But  you  will  de- 
side  I  am  young  yet  and  in  health  Save  me  Father  for  i  have 
one  foot  in  the  Pit  and  the  other  on  the  Edge  O  Father  if 
you  do  not  here  me  i  must  give  up  all  hops  it  is  not  fear  of 
doing  Penance  and  to  sin  no  more  Makes  me  feard  of  Confes- 
sion it  is  the  Monsters  Life  and  crimes  But  all  the  good 
Fathers  words  i  have  read  says  it  is  Easy  when  it  is  over  Only 
send  word  and  When  i  would  walk  to  you  on  my  knees  if  I 
could  get  no  way  els. —  [Signed] . 

Letters  in  the  same  strain  came  to  him  from  convicts  at 
every  settlement,  from  their  warders,  and  from  captured  bush- 
rangers— who  were  not  always  Catholics. 

Twelve  months  after  Father  Therry's  arrival  in  the  colony, 
when  a  storm  drove  back  to  the  mainland  the  ship  in  which 
he  was  sailing  for  Tasmania,  the  people  hailed  the  return  of 
their  friend  by  the  old  saying  that  it  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows 
no  one  any  good.  He  remained  their  friend  in  all  their  ad- 
versities.  The  chronicling  of  the  difficulties  which  confronted 


294  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

him,  and  which  he  overcame  single-handed,  would  seem  exag- 
gerated were  it  not  supported  by  documents.  A  vast  continent 
was  his  mission;  thousands  of  people  were  his  flock;  the  pas- 
ture was  barren.  He  shuddered  at  the  prospect  before  him, 
but  never  faltered  in  his  work.  A  document  drawn  up  by  him 
shows  that  between  the  years  1820  and  1839  ne  nac^  performed 
2,511  baptisms,  684  marriages,  and  522  funerals.  It  is  quite 
possible  that  the  total  was  considerably  greater,  for  in  the  early 
years  of  his  mission  he  frequently  lost  count  of  the  number 
and  the  names  of  those  to  whom  he  had  ministered. 

The  determination  with  which  he  entered  on  his  labours 
was  always  marked,  and  he  expected  the  same  interestedness 
and  constancy  in  all  who  promised  to  assist.  His  encounters 
with  Government  are  evidences  of  this  characteristic,  and  a 
letter  which  he  wrote  to  one  who  refused  to  redeem  a  promise 
gives  a  further  indication.  "Having  heard  that  you  would  not 
fulfil  the  promise  you  had  made  of  subscribing  to  the  Catholic 
Chapel  ...  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  enquire.  Allow  me  to 
remind  you  of  the  dreadful  fate  of  Ananias  and  his  wife 
Sapphira,  who  were  both  struck  dead  at  the  feet  of  St.  Peter, 
not  indeed,  for  having  by  fraud  withheld  a  portion  of  the  price 
of  their  land,  but  for  having  told  a  lie.  Let  not  Satan,  my 
dear  Sir,  tempt  thy  heart  to  do  the  same."  He  could  be  firm 
when  occasion  demanded;  and  he  could  be  charitable,  almost 
to  prodigality,  at  the  sight  of  injustice  or  suffering. 

Hundreds  of  letters  among  the  Therry  Papers  are  from 
people  seeking  for  relief.  Many  of  the  Catholic  convicts  on 
arrival  brought  letters  from  their  Parish  Priests  to  Father 
Therry,  asking  for  his  watchful  care.  When  a  convict  had 
hopes  of  obtaining  his  ticket-of-leave,  or  of  bringing  his  wife 
and  family  from  Europe,1  he  came  to  Father  Therry  to  have 
drawn  up  in  correct  English  the  long,  formal  document  for 
presentation  to  the  Governor.  Letters  from  abroad  to  colonists 
or  convicts  were  often  addressed  "in  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
Father  Therry."  The  priest's  house  was  an  address  that 
would  find  all  who  had  no  fixed  abode.    Letters  from  men  in 


1  See  facsimile  at  p.  100. 


PREVISIONS  295 

Government  employ  in  far  distant  country  districts  asked  him 
to  employ  them,  or  to  find  them  work  where  they  could  go  to 
Mass  and  Confession.  One  letter  is  from  a  poor  woman  who 
will  be  evicted  if  Father  Therry  will  not  advance  her  the 
rent;  another  from  a  school-teacher  who  is  "favoured  with  a 
dozen  degrees  and  diplomas  but  cannot  get  any  pupils"; 
another  from  a  convict  on  Norfolk  Island  who  was  sent  there 
without  a  trial  and  asks  Father  Therry  to  intercede;  another 
from  a  solicitor  who  hopes  with  Father  Therry's  influence 
to  build  up  a  large  practice;  and  still  another  from  a  music- 
master  who  has  just  published  a  set  of  Quadrilles,  which  he 
asks  Father  Therry  to  recommend  to  his  numerous  and  ex- 
alted friends. 

He  was  a  man  of  great  ideas.  In  this  he  and  Lachlan  Mac- 
quarie  were  on  common  ground.  It  was  not  the  struggling 
township  of  the  Tank  Stream  for  which  they  made  provision ; 
it  was  the  City  of  Sydney.  For  this  city  he  built  St.  Mary's, 
against  the  advice  of  those  who  could  not  see  beyond  the  con- 
vict settlement.  When  his  church  had  grown  large  enough  to 
support  a  Bishop  and  many  clergy,  his  interests  became 
wider.  He  brought  forward  plans  to  civilize  the  aboriginal 
peoples;  the  Maori  war,  even  the  reunion  of  Christendom, 
were  all  objects  of  his  solicitude.  The  evils  of  transportation 
he  well  knew,  and  his  protests  against  the  continuance  of  such 
a  system  were  of  great  value  in  arousing  and  maintaining  pub- 
lic interest. 

United  to  these  vast  interests,  there  was  a  simplicity  in 
Father  Therry  that  bound  him  closer  to  the  hearts  of  the 
people.  They  all  knew  his  great  holiness ;  Catholic  and  Protest- 
ant cherished  the  friendship  of  him  whom  they  looked  upon  as 
a  saint.  Throughout  his  long  and  arduous  life  he  rarely 
omitted  to  say  his  daily  Mass ;  in  the  evening  he  would  recite 
the  fifteen  decades  of  the  Rosary  in  his  chapel,  or  with  the 
family  of  some  neighbour.  His  devotion  to  the  Mother  of  God 
and  the  Saints  was  remarkable.  At  the  head  of  many  of  his 
letters  he  placed  the  initials  I.N.D. J.M  J. J.M.G.R.P.P. 
A.D.F.A.B.M.P.A.A.S.    We  cannot  be  sure  of  all  the 


2^ 


296  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

Saints  thus  invoked ;  but  some  documents  show  that, 
besides  the  Holy  Family,  his  efforts  were  placed  under  the 
guidance  and  in  the  name  of  Saints  Peter  and  Paul,  Michael, 
John,  Francis,  Patrick,  and  Magdalen.  Another  practice  of 
the  saintly  priest  was  to  offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice  weekly,  for 
the  repose  of  the  souls  of  the  deceased  relatives  of  the  Holy 
Father  and  for  the  Bishops  and  Priests  of  the  Australian  mis- 
sion. His  intense  faith  prompted  him  to  undertake  tasks  that 
appeared  almost  impossible  of  achievement,  trusting  always  in 
the  God  for  whose  glory  he  worked.  Looking  back  at  his 
work,  we  can  have  no  doubt  that  it  was  this  laudable  and 
constant  intention  for  God's  glory  that  crowned  his  work  with 
success.  Each  morning,  kneeling  at  his  bedside  or  before  the 
tabernacle,  he  consecrated  the  coming  day  to  the  service  of 
his  God;  and  by  the  following  prayer  he  offered  himself  as 
an  instrument  to  the  Almighty: — 

In  nomine  Patris  et  Filii  et  Spiritus  Sancti.  Blessed  be  the 
Holy  and  Undivided  Trinity,  now  and  always  and  for  infinite 
ages  of  ages.   Amen. 

Prostrate  before  the  throne  of  Thy  Mercy,  O  Holy  and 
Undivided  Trinity,  I  adore  with  all  the  powers  of  my  soul  Thy 
Divine  Majesty,  and  acknowledge  that  to  Thee  alone  are  due 
all  Love,  Praise  and  Thanksgiving,  on  account  of  Thy  infinite 
goodness.  I  firmly  believe  and  am  ready  to  profess  what- 
ever Thou  hast  revealed  to  Thy  Holy  Church.  I  hope  in  Thy 
mercies,  and  love  Thy  ineffable  goodness.  I  grieve  from 
my  soul  for  ever  having  offended  Thee,  and  for  the  love  of 
Thee  I  detest  all  my  sins,  and  am  resolved  rather  to  die  than 
again  to  offend  Thee. 

I  give  Thee  thanks,  O  Supreme  Deity,  for  all  and  each  of 
Thy  benefits,  both  general  and  particular,  for  those  which  are 
known  to  me  as  well  as  those  of  which  I  am  ignorant ;  and 
more  particularly,  for  my  creation,  redemption  and  my  voca- 
tion to  the  Holy  Catholic  Church ;  for  N.  N ;  and  for 

all  the  benefits  which  have  been  or  may  hereafter  be  conferred 
on  me,  and  on  all  Thy  creatures  for  all  eternity.  Accept 
my  thanks  for  having  preserved  me  during  the  past  night 
from  many  dangers  of  both  soul  and  body,  and  for  having 
given  me  this  day  to  continue  my  services  to  Thee.  My  God ! 
in  grateful  acknowledgement  I  offer  to  Thee  my  body  and 


FATHER   THERRY'S    PRAYER  297 

soul,  my  understanding  and  my  will,  all  my  affections,  my 
every  step  and  motion  of  body  and  soul,  of  my  past,  present 
and  future  life,  but  in  a  special  manner  those  of  the  pre- 
sent day,  and  beseech  Thee  that  they  may  be  such  as  to  be 
justly  meritorious  in  Thy  sight.  With  these,  I  offer  my  luke- 
warm or  indifferent  actions;  I  now  offer  to  Thee  the  Body 
and  Soul  of  Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour;  all  His  merits,  His 
labours,  His  words  and  works ;  whatever  He  did  and  suffered 
in  this  life,  from  His  conception  to  His  death. 

Almighty  God  accepted  the  offering  of  his  life  and  labours. 
The  hand  of  God  was  over  the  Australian  Church  from  the 
day  on  which  John  Joseph  Therry  volunteered  for  that  far- 
distant  portion  of  the  Vineyard.  He  died  when  the  pioneer 
days  of  the  colony  were  ended,  when  the  great  fabric  of  the 
Catholic  Church  in  Australia  had  been  raised  upon  his  foun- 
dation. He  had  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  his  founda- 
tion had  not  been  shaken  under  the  great  weight  of  forty-four 
years  of  building,  and  that  it  would  support,  firmly  and 
securely,  the  growth  of  centuries. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

I  have  planted,  Apollo  watered;  but  God  gave  the  increase. 

— I  Cor.  III. 

The  history  of  events  in  Australia  cannot  be  accurately 
understood  until  we  study  side  by  side  with  them  the  course 
of  events  in  Europe,  especially  in  Great  Britain.  Between 
1815  and  1830  Europe  was  metamorphosed.  Monarchies 
restored  after  the  fall  of  Napoleon  had  tottered  and  fallen  and 
been  replaced  by  new  monarchies.  Democracies,  awakened 
and  for  a  moment  freed  at  the  end  of  the  previous  century, 
and  suppressed  again  in  and  after  the  Napoleonic  wars,  were 
once  more  asserting  themselves  against  great  opposition  and 
with  varying  fortunes.  But  each  failure  on  the  road  to  free- 
dom, each  effort  with  its  following  suppression,  brought  the 
ultimate  triumph  nearer;  the  Tree  of  Liberty  was  firmly  set, 
and  every  destruction  of  the  shoots  as  they  showed  above 
ground  merely  threw  the  sap  more  strongly  into  the  roots. 
Gradually  in  the  years  that  succeeded  Waterloo  foreign  poli- 
cies were  liberalized,  and  recognition  was  here  and  there  given 
to  a  country's  right  to  determine  its  own  form  of  government. 
And,  when  the  tyrannic  hand  of  the  Quadruple  Alliance  seemed 
at  one  moment  to  be  throttling  democracy  in  Europe,  Canning 
"called  the  New  World  in  to  redress  the  balance  of  the  Old." 

He  was  not  thinking  of  Australia,  we  may  be  sure.  But 
his  words  were  truer  of  Australia  than  of  the  countries  he 
actually  had  in  mind.  The  progress  of  democracy  in  Australia 
was  slower  than  in  England,  but  it  was  surer.  The  beginnings 
of  the  next  century  saw  it  in  Australia  in  advance  of  any 
country  in  the  world. 

The  established  forms  of  government  in  Europe  had  been 
overthrown,  but  in  their  collapse  the  Catholic  Church  suffered 
severely.  Reviewing  the  decline  of  ecclesiastical  influence 
in  Europe,  and  the  simultaneous  growth  of  the  Catholic  Church 
in  America  and  Australia — founded  not  upon  the  old  systems 


29? 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AUSTRALIA  299 

of  alliance  with  absolute  monarchy,  but  upon  sympathy  with 
the  trend  of  the  world-wide  aspirations  of  democracy — we  are 
led  to  believe  that  Canning's  assertion  had  a  wider  significance 
than  that  statesman  intended.  The  New  World  had  been 
called  in  to  redress  the  balance  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the 
Old. 

The  year  1798  saw  the  proclamation  of  the  Republic  in 
Rome  and  the  expulsion  of  Pius  VI ;  it  saw  also  the  Rebellion 
in  Ireland  and  the  deportation  of  large  numbers  of  defeated 
insurgents  to  New  Holland.  These  were  the  nucleus  of  the 
Church  in  Australia.  The  bitter  memories  of  the  imprison- 
ment of  Pius  VII  by  Napoleon  had  not  been  obliterated  from 
the  minds  of  Catholics,  nor  had  the  Church  recovered  from 
the  years  of  enslavement  and  persecution,  when  it  was  an- 
nounced in  1819  that  Fathers  Therry  and  Conolly  had  sailed 
from  Ireland  to  establish  the  Catholic  Church  at  the  Antipodes. 
During  the  years  that  followed,  while  the  Church  was  suffering 
in  Italy,  France,  Austria  and  Germany,  it  was  progressing  in 
Australia.  The  Italian  revolutions  of  1831  and  1832,  and  the 
struggles  of  the  Papacy  against  the  Carbonari  and  "Young 
Italy,"  were  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  grant  of  Cath- 
olic Emancipation  in  Protestant  England  through  the  demo- 
cratic efforts  of  Daniel  O'Connell  and  the  rising  Liberal  party. 
The  good  effects  of  this  just  Act  were  soon  visible  in  New 
Holland,  in  the  appointments  of  its  first  Vicar  General 
and  its  first  Bishop.  As  the  prospects  of  the  Church  in  France 
rose  and  fell  with  the  succession  of  various  forms  of  Govern- 
ment, the  Church  in  Australia  advanced  rapidly  and  securely 
in  numbers  and  influence  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  people. 
When  in  1870  the  Pope  was  completely  despoiled  of  his  tem- 
poral power,  and  when  in  succeeding  years  the  Church  in 
Prussia  was  striving  heroically  against  Bismarck's  notorious 
Kulturkampf  and  the  Falk  Laws,  the  Church  in  the  New 
World  of  Australia  was  capable  of  contributing  largely  to 
redress  the  balance  of  the  Old  World.  The  Church  in 
Europe  to-day,  unhampered  by  and  independent  of  the  State, 
has  practically  regained  the  ground  it  had  temporarily  lost. 


300  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

The  Church  in  Australia  has  never  looked  back  since  the  day 
when  Father  Therry  planted  it  upon  the  road  of  success. 

At  the  close  of  her  first  century  of  existence  the  Catholic 
Church  in  Australia  has  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  pro- 
gress and  achievements.  When  other  religious  bodies  are 
languishing  and  inert,  she  is  vigorous  and  fruitful  in  works  of 
religion,  education  and  charity.1  The  canker  of  unbelief  and 
indifference  has  not  sapped  her  robust  vitality.  Of  course, 
she  has  her  "leakages"  and  her  indifferent  ones,  but  the  num- 
bers are  not  alarming.  The  piety  and  devotion  of  those  who 
call  themselves  by  her  hallowed  name  are  traits  admitted  and 
admired  on  all  sides.  She  makes  an  appeal  to  "the  popular 
mind,  to  the  democrats  of  our  country,  such  as  no  other  body 
makes.  She  has  the  consciousness  of  success,  and  she  looks 
with  confidence  to  the  future. 

In  this  success  Father  Therry  must  be  regarded  as  a 
potent  contributing  factor.  He  set  the  standard  of  efficiency 
and  priestly  generosity.  In  the  years  since  his  death  others, 
priests,  bishops,  teaching  brothers  and  sisters,  have  entered 
on  his  labours.  And  because  these  workers  have  walked  in 
Father  Therry's  footsteps — have  continued  his  unselfishness, 
his  zeal,  his  sympathy  for  the  people,  his  high  devotion  to  the 
doctrines,  devotions  and  ideals  of  Catholicism — the  Church  has 
been  successful.  Father  Therry  was  known  and  loved  by 
everyone.  His  priestly  ministrations  were  at  the  service  of 
all  men  of  good-will.  He  lived  for  the  Faith;  he  laboured 
solely  for  the  better  interest  of  his  fellows.  He  showed  a 
kindly,  practical  interest  in  all  the  concerns  of  his  people.  He 
thought  but  little  of  himself.  To  the  last  he  retained  the  high- 
mindedness  that  first  brought  him  to  serve  a  distressed  por- 
tion of  the  Catholic  flock  in  a  far  distant  land.  His  life  welded 
the  priesthood  of  this  new  country  to  democracy.  It  is  not 
assuming  too  much  to  couple  him  with  the  great  statesman 
Wentworth,  and  to  call  him  one  of  the  first  great  democrats 

1  Official  statistics  of  the  Church's  religious  activities  will  be  found 
in  Appendix  D. 


AN   AUGURY   OF   SUCCESS  301 

of  Australia.  Time  has  brought  us,  and  will  yet  bring,  priests 
more  able,  more  cultured,  more  gifted.  But  it  will  not  bring 
us  a  better  priest. 

Standing  at  the  beginning  of  the  Australian  priesthood, 
his  virtues,  his  deeds  will  ever  point  the  way.  The  name  of 
Archpriest  John  Joseph  Therry,  cut  indelibly  into  the  founda- 
tion stone  of  the  mighty  edifice  of  the  Catholic  Church  in 
Australia,  is  an  inspiration  and  an  augury  of  success  to  the 
"kingdom  of  God"  beneath  the  Southern  Cross. 


APPENDICES 


APPENDIX    A 

Note:  The  order  is  for  the  most  part  chronological,  but  letters  on  the 
same  subject  are  often  grouped.  Those  in  the  Manly  Archives  are 
distinguished  by  an  asterisk. 

i.     The  Colonial  Secretary  to  Father  Therry* 

Secretary's  Office, 

14th  June,  1820. 
Revd.  Sir, 

I  have  in  command  to  inform  you  that  you  will 
be  required  to  attend  The  Honble  the  Judge  Advocate  and 
Bench  of  Magistrates  on  Saturday  next,  and  to  give  such  in- 
formation as  may  be  within  your  Power  in  regard  to  Certain 
representations  lately  made  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
concerning  the  Master  of  the  Ship  Janus,  his  Officers  and 
Crew  having  lived  and  cohabited  with  certain  of  the  Women 
Convicts  lately  arrived  in  that  Ship. 

It  is  presumed  from  your  having  arrived  as  a  Passenger 
on  board  the  Janus  that  you  will  be  able  to  bear  testimony  to 
the  actual  state  of  the  case,  and  it  is  no  less  expected  that  you 
will  do  so. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Revd.  Sir, 
Your  Obedt.  Hble.  Servt, 
Revd.  J.  J.  Therry,  J.  T.  Campbell,  Scr*. 

Roman  Catholic  Chaplain, 
Sydney. 

2.     Father  Therry^s  Official  Pass  into  the  Gaol* 

12  July,   1820. 
To  The  Keeper  of  H.M.  Jail 
and  all  others  concerned 

The  Jailor  will  please  to  admit  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  Ro- 
man Catholic  Chaplain  into  the  Jail  to  administer  the  consola- 
tions of  religion  to  the  unhappy  people  of  his  Communion,  now 
under  sentence  of  Death — 

J.  T.  Campbell,  Prov.  Mar. 

[Endorsed]  Order  of  admission  at  night  into  the  jail. 

305 


306  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

3.    John  L.  Brenan  to  Father  Therry* 

Prisoner's  Barrack,  Parramatta, 
Tuesday  Evening  18th  September,  1821. 

Sir, 

My  distressed  state  of  mind  and  Body  did  not  allow 
me  to  say  many  words,  when  you  honoured  me  with  an  inter- 
view this  day. 

Inclosed  you  have  a  Letter  for  Doctor  Douglass,  which  if 
you  deliver  and  use  your  good  influence  to  get  him  to  comply 
with  my  request,  it  will  not  only  be  an  act  of  humanity,  but 
will  prolong  the  life  of  a  person  who  wishes  to  pass  a  few 
months  in  disguise,  and  then  return  to  the  enjoyment  of  a 
property  which  will  keep  him  in  a  respectable  style  during  the 
remaining  part  of  his  days. 

I  have  had  the  misfortune  to  purchase  a  quantity  of 
smuggled  Tea,  in  the  City  of  Dublin,  for  which  I  have  been 
sentenced  to  7  years  Transportn.  Still,  I  can  say,  with  a  safe 
conscience,  that  I  have  not  in  my  life  time  committed  either  a 
Dishonest  or  Dishonorable  act. 

I  am  really  sorry  to  prove  so  troublesome  to  you,  but  the 
low  ebb  of  misery  and  degradation  to  which  I  am  reduced 
(of  which  you  have  had  ocular  demonstration)  urges  me  to 
trespass  on  your  well  known  goodness. 

I  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself  to  be 
Rev'd  Sir, 
Your  Most  Obedt.  Huml.  Servt. 

John  L.  Brenan. 

P.S. — Have  the  goodness  to  read  my  letter  to  Dr.  Douglass 
before  you  deliver  it. 

[Endorsed]  Mr.  Kirk's,  Back  Row. 


4.     The  Colonial  Secretary  to  Father  Therry* 

Colonial  Secretary's  Office, 

22nd  September    1821. 

Revd.  Sir, 

Having  submitted  your  letter  of  20th  July  last, 
to  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  I  have  in  command  to  in- 
form you,  that  by  the  orders  of  Earl  Bathurst,  you  are  en- 
titled to  a  Salary  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  (£100)  per  annum, 
and  commencing  from  the  Date  of  your  arrival  in  this  Colony : 
But  as  The  Revd.  Mr.  Conolly  has  by  mistake  been  paid  his 
Salary  from  the  Date  of  his  sailing  from  Ireland,  you  will 


APPENDIX   A  307 

receive  the  same  indulgence  on  stating  in  Writing  the  date 
alluded  to. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 
Revd.  Sir, 
Your  obedient  humble  servant, 
F.  Goulburn, 

Col1.  Secret*. 

5.     Governor  Macquarie  to  Father  Therry* 

Private.  Government  House, 

Monday  Evening, 

29th  October  1821. 
Dear  Sir, 

In  case  you  should  wish  to  have  your  very 
well  written,  and  most  interesting  address  to  me  to-day,  at  the 
ceremony  of  laying  the  Foundation  Stone  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Chapel,  published  in  the  Sydney  Gazette,  I  do  my- 
self the  pleasure  of  sending  you  in  writing  my  Reply  thereto, 
containing  my  real  sentiments,  to  be  published  along  with 
your  address,  which  I  now  return  you  for  that  purpose. 

Wishing  yourself,  and  your  Brethern  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Faith,  every  happiness  and  prosperity  in  this  world, 
and  every  Heavenly  Blessing  in  the  next, 

I  remain, 

Dear  Sir, 
Your  faithful  Humble  Servant, 
To  The  Revd.  L.  Macquarie. 

John  Joseph  Therry, 
R.C.  Chaplain. 


6.     An  Ursuline  Nun,  Living  in  Cork,  to  Father  Therry* 

[Date  between  1823  and  1826.] 
My  very  dear  Friend, 

May  I  not  with  great  reason  complain  that  in 
the  course  of  three  years  and  more  than  as  many  months  I 
received  from  you  about  five  lines,  you  whom  I  once  called 
my  dearest  friend.  Tho'  I  still  consider  you  as  such  and  tho' 
I  now  write  to  you,  I  have  some  difficulty  in  persuading  my- 
self that  any  communication  from  me  will  interest  you.  Has 
not  perhaps  time  and  distance  effected  the  same  change  in 
you  as  in  many  others  who  have  forgotten  their  dearest  ties 
under  similar  circumstances — but  if  I  may  juge  by  my  own 
feelings  and  the  consideration  that  our  friendship  had   for 


308  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

its  basis  a  something  more  solid  than  that  which  unites  the 
generality  here  below.  Yes,  I  do  hope  that  ours  is  not  to  end 
with  a  litle  time.  In  this  idea  and  under  this  impression,  let 
me  tell  you  all  that  concerns  your  poor  friend. 

When  you  next  see  me,  if  indeed  we  do  meet,  you'll  find 
me  greatly  altered  as  well  from  ill  health  as  from  afflicting 
trials  of  another  sort  of  which  God  has  been  liberal  to  me.  It 
has  pleased  God  to  deprive  her  her  little  children  of  my  poor 
sister  Harnett,  Ellen  continues  to  live  with  the  boys,  but  she 
is  in  extremely  delicate  health.  Catherine  Warnill  has  been 
in  the  Convent  nearby  since  your  departure.  She  is  at  present 
out  for  a  short  time.  I  have  some  reason  to  hope  that  her  final 
choice  will  be  for  a  religious  life.  The  boys  are  very  promis- 
ing they  are  independently  provided  for  and  have  at  present 
every  advantage  as  well  for  education  as  health  and  religion, 
but  I  tremble  when  I  think  that  should  they  lose  Ellen,  they 
must  be  sent  to  publick  schools.  ...  I  had  a  letter  lately  from 
our  friend  Mrs.  Carter.  She  is  at  present  in  London.  The 
Capt.  is  in  some  good  employment,  and'  I  was  glad  to  hear 
from  a  clergyman  who  saw  her  lately  that  she  appears  happy. 
She  has  one  little  child,  and  the  Capt.  has  no  objection  to 
have  it  reared  a  Catholick.  When  ever  I  hear  from  Dan 
McCarthy  &c.  they  always  enquire  for  you,  but  except  from 
report  I  can  give  them  no  information.  As  most  probably 
you'l  get  letters  from  your  family  by  this  conveyance  I  need 
say  nothing  of  them.  Ellen  is  very  intimate  with  your  sister 
and  she  tells  me  that  your  Silence  occasions  yr.  family  much 
uneasiness.  By  a  letter  which  I  saw  on  the  newspaper  from 
Dr.  Englan  to  CI.  O'Connell  he  is  in  sad  distress  for  Priests 
but  all  are  not  eaqually  zealous  as  you  were.  Report  gives  us 
a  hope  that  we  are  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  in  the 
course  of  the  ensuing  Summer,  but  that  you  only  come  for 
Priests  and  that  you  are  to  remain  in  New  South  Wales.  I 
did  hope  that  your  Mission  was  to  be  o.nly  four  years.  I 
remember  you  told  me  so,  but  if  it  be  more  for  the  honor  and 
glory  of  God,  surely  I  should  not  wish  it  otherwise.  My 
Brother  the  Doctor  desired  me  to  present  you  his  most  sincere 
regards  as  does  Ellen,  C.  Harnett,  and  the  Boys.  The  Re- 
ligious often  speak  of  you.  Mrs.  Moylan  does  not  forget  that 
you  went  away  without  seeing  her.  Next  April  this  amiable 
Religious  completes  his  50th  year  in  Rn.  which  is  to  be  a  day 
of  general  jubilation  in  the  house.  By  the  boat  which  takes 
this  you  will  also  import  a  great  number  of  young  females, 
the   Children   of  persons   who   have  been  transported   some 


APPENDIX    A  309 

years  back.  I  hope  they  will  be  useful  in  promoting  religion, 
tho'  from  different  parts  of  Ireland,  they  have  had  the  good 
fortune  to  be  in  Cork  some  months,  and  received  instruction 
at  our  Extern  School  and  went  to  Confession  to  Abbe  Lyons 
— do  you  my  dear  friend  forget  to  pray  for  M.  Bernard, 
how  often  since  I  saw  you  have  I  been  unable  to  pray  for 
myself,  and  never  did  I  need  yours  more  than  at  present. 

I  should  attempt  to  give  you  some  news  from  Cork,  was 
I  not  aware  that  you  will  receive  more  letters  from  this,  by 
the  same  opportunity  and  perhaps  by  lengthening  mine  I 
should  only  exhaust  your  patience.  Our  Community  is  greatly 
increased  since  your  departure,  we  have  had  abt.  10  subjects 
and  as  we  speak  now  seriously  of  sending  missions  to 
different  parts  perhaps  we  may  one  day  form  an  Ursuline  es- 
tablishment in  New  South  Wales,  but  as  I  cannot  divest  my- 
self of  some  degree  of  selfishness  I  rather  wish  that  your 
place  may  be  supplied  there  in  order  to  enable  you  to  have  it 
here  in  Cork. 

Dr.  Murphy  is  only  returned  from  Dublin.  Tho'  he  is 
large  and  I  think  become  so  since  you  saw  him,  yet  do  not 
think  his  health  is  in  general  good.  He  lately  reed,  a  shock 
in  the  death  of  a  favourite  Nephew,  son  to  Dan  Murphy. 
You  probably  will  have  heard  before  you  receive  this  the 
death  of  poor  Mr.  Hays.  He  died  in  Paris,  I  think  of  broken 
heart,  for  the  poor  man  had  a  large  portion  of  the  Cross. 
He  was  I  am  sure  an  humble  and  a  pious  man,  and  with  a 
litle  more  moderation  would  do  an  incalculable  good  to  the 
Church.  Mr.  Hughs  was  with  him  when  he  died,  he  is  to 
return  to  Cork  imed'y  and  is  appointed  Superior  of  his 
order.  I'l  now  close  this  by  your  prayers,  and  an  entreaty 
that  you  will  at  no  time  entertain  a  doubt  of  the  sincere 
attachment  of 

M.  B.  Cahill. 

Convent, 

February  26th. 

7.     Father  Conolly  to  Father  Therry* 

Hobart  Town, 

17  Nov.  1823. 
Rev.  dear  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  forwarding  you  the  Holy 
oils  which  Doctor  Poynter  was  so  kind  as  to  send  here,  kindly 
desiring  his  compliments  to  be  presented  to  you.  I  expected 
to  have  heard  from  you.,  by  some  of  the  numerous  arrivals 


310  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

here  from  Sydney,  but  have  not  received  any  communication 
from  you  for  a  long  time  past.  Mr.  Coyne  has  written  to  me 
pressingly  for  further  payment  for  his  books;  I  beg  you  will 
exert  yourself  and  enable  to  make  him  a  remittance  as  soon 
as  possible;  the  books  are  a  public  benefit  which  the  people, 
I  fear,  do  not  know  how  to  appreciate. 

There  has  been  such  a  general  complaint  here  of  want 
of  money  that  I  gave  up  the  idea  for  the  present,  of  applying 
for  subscriptions  to  build  the  Chapel  I  contemplated.  The 
protestant  inhabitants  are  those  from  [whom]  I  could  expect 
assistance — in  the  present  circumstances  an  application  to 
them  would  be  inexpedient.  The  catholics  are  not  able,  such 
of  them  as  might  be  supposed  to  be  so  have  lived  so  extravag- 
antly beyond  their  means  that  the  Provost  Marshal  is  adver- 
tising their  property  for  sale  as  it  were  in  rotation. 

A  rumour  has  reached  this  territory  that  Lt.  Gov.  Sorell 
is  to  be  soon  relieved.  A  meeting  was  therefore  called  to 
memorial  His  Majesty  to  continue  him  in  this  government. 
A  petition  to  this  effect  is  now  receiving  signatures. 

When  I  read  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane's  reply  to  the  Presby- 
terians, I  felt  truly  grateful  for  the  dignified  liberality  he 
evinced  towards  you  and  me.  The  Presbyterians  have  com- 
menced to  build  a  church  in  this  town,  but  have  not  raised 
it  yet  as  high  as  the  foundation.  Some  of  his  own  people 
have  been  speaking  very  uncharitably  of  their  minister,  Mr. 
McArthur,  and  a  great  many  say  he  deserved  it. 

Let  me  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  you  by  the  first 
opportunity — tell  me  how  the  chapel  advances,  and  make  me, 
if  in  your  power,  an  advance  for  our  friend  Coyne. 

I  expect  to  be  able  to  go  to  Sydney  in  three  or  four  months, 
although  I  assure  you  I  have  no  relish  for  sea  voyages.  Lest 
you  might  not  be  in  the  way  on  the  arrival  of  the  Jupiter  I 
directed  the  case  containing  the  oils  to  Capt.  Mackay  to  whom 
and  Mrs.  Mackay  you  will  present  my  best  regards.  After  clos- 
ing this  I  begin  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Mackay  which  will  contain 
some  intelligence  worthy  of  being  recorded. 

I  am,  sincerely  yours, 

P.  Co  NOLLY. 

8.     Ellen  Mahony  to  Father  Therry. 

Denham  Court,  nth  July  1824. 
Revd.  Sir. 

Having  heard   that   several    deaths   have   taken 
place,  at  the  Orphan  School  of  late,  and  from  maternal  solici- 


APPENDIX   A  311 

tude  feeling  some  apprehension,  on  account  of  my  Son  who 
is  placed  in  that  Establishment ;  I  have  in  consequence  pre- 
sumed to  trouble  you  to  beg  you  would  condescend  to  have 
the  kindness  to  enquire  if  my  son  is  still  living  and  in  health, 
as  I  am  very  uneasy  from  a  fear  of  his  falling  a  prey  to  some 
decease,  from  the  alarming  increase  of  mortality  at  the  Orphan 
School ;  my  fears  may  have  been  excited,  without  any  well 
founded  cause ;  yet  still  it  would  greatly  contribute  to  my  ease 
and  comfort,  could  I  be  assured,  that  my  little  Boy  was  in 
no  danger. 

Your  kind  attention  to  my  application  will  ever  be  grate- 
fully felt  and  acknowledged  by 

Revd.  Sir, 
Your  very  obedt.  obliged 

humble  Servant, 

Ellen  Mahony. 

P.S. — Your  early  reply  to  this,  will  confer  an  additional 
obligation  on  me.  Please  to  address  to  me,  "at  Capt.  Brooks." 
The  name  of  my  Son  is  Jeremiah  Mahony.  E.M. 


9.     William  Kelly  to  Father  Therry. 

H.  Ms.  Gaol  Sydney 

14th  August  1825 

Revd.  Sir, 

I  most  respectfully  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you 
that  Webb  who  is  under  Sentence  for  execution  tomorrow 
morning  and  who  has  been  brought  up  in  the  protestant  re- 
ligion most  earnestly  intreated  Mr.  Toole  to  solicit  your  at- 
tendance this  morning  on  him  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of 
confessing  and  receiving  the  Blessed  Sacrament  so  as  to  en- 
able him  to  die  in  the  Catholic  faith. 

I  am 

Revd  Sir 
Your  most  ob*.  Hble,  Servt. 

William  Kelly 


10.     W.  W.  Wilson  to  Father  Therry. 

Hs.  Ms.  Gaol  Sydney 

19th  June   1826 
Revd.  Sir, 

The    under    mentioned     persons     having    had 


26 


312  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Sentence  of  Death  passed  on  them  this  day  wishes  your  at- 
tendance at  your  earliest  opportunity. 

I  am 
Sir 
Your  most  ob.  Hble.  Ser*. 
William  Cusack  W.  W.  Wilson 

John  Collins  Gaoler 

John  Boyd  and 
Bridget  Fairless 


ii.     John  Toole  to  Father  Therry. 

Hs.  Ms.  Gaol  Sydney 

8th  Sept.  1826 
Revd.  Sir, 

I  am  directed  by  Isaac  Smith,  who  was  this 
day  found  guilty  of  Murder  and  ordered  for  execution  on 
Monday  morning  the  4th  inst.  that  you  will  have  the  goodness 
to  attend  him  with  all  convenient  speed,  he  is  a  protestant  and 
wishes  to  die  a  Catholic  which  causes  him  so  anxious  for  your 
attendance 

I  remain 
Revd.  Sir 
Your  most  hble.  st. 

John  Toole 

12.     James  Moran  to  Father  Therry. 

Sydney  Gaol  2nd  Septr.  28. 
To  the  Revd.  Dr.  J.  J.  Terry, 
&c,  &c,  &c. 
Revd.  Sir, 

I  take  the  Liberty  of  troubling  your  Reverence, 
trusting  as  my  condition  is  now  so  awful  that  as  I  have  had 
the  misfortune  to  be  tried  and  found  Guilty  Capital  and  ex- 
pects to  obtain  no  mercy  that  if  at  all  convenient  you  will  be 
so  kind  as  to  call  on  me  as  soon  as  possible,  for  I  am  quite  un- 
easy in  Mind  'till  I  see  your  Reverence,  and  I  also  beg  leave 
to  state  that  there  is  a  Church  of  England  man  here  for  a 
Murder  and  he  desires  very  much  to  have  some  conversation 
with  you  Previous  to  his  Trial  as  he  intends  to  change  his 
opinion,  he  is  for  Trial  on  Friday  next.  I  hope  that  your 
reverence  will  excuse  this  trouble,  which  I  am  certain  you  will, 
as  you  are  always  ready  to  comfort  the  Poor. 

James  Moran 


APPENDIX   A  313 

13.     Andrew  Doyle  to  Father  Tiierry* 

[The  occasion  of  this  letter  has  not  been  identified;  its  intrinsic  interest 
sufficiently  explains  its  appearance  here.  The  reference  to  the 
Lieutenant-Governor  seems  to  date  it  at  the  end  of  1825.] 

Windsor  Goal  16th. 
Revd.  Sir, 

Altho  not  favord  by  your  knowledge  of  me  yet 
I  am  actuated  by  our  friend  Mr.  Garrag".  to  introduce  Mrs. 
Doyle  to  yr  knowledge  who  will  describe  to  yr  Revce.  my  in- 
temperance in  disturbing  Mr.  Marsdn.  in  a  funeral  sermon  on 
the  6th  May  for  which  Messrs.  Cox,  Braby  and  Mitcham,  Mr. 
Cox  as  principal,  sentencd  me  from  one  of  the  Statutes  of 
Mary  to  be  imprisond  3  Months  and  find  Securities. 

As  they  each  distinctly  seem  to  feel  for  me,  yet  in  friend- 
ship to  Mr.  Marsdn.  they  wish  to  act  in  conjunction  with  His 
Wishes.  And  I  am  now  directed  to  apply  to  the  Lt.  Govr. 
And  I  Humbly  trust  to  yr  goodness  in  using  those  efforts  of 
a  Christian  divine  which  Mr.  Mars",  thro  a  contrary  line 
pleases  to  adopt. 

And  as  Mr.  S.  Lord  will  inform  yr  Revce.  I  Have  offerd 
evry  concession  which  became  a  Man  of  any  distinguished 
decency  I  beg  thro  yr  intercession  the  Lt.  Govr  may  send  an 
Order  admitting  me  to  bail  as  the  offence  simply  Stands  a 
breach  of  the  peace.  But  Having  discoverd  a  Statute  of 
Marys  tho'  all  hers  were  repeald  by  Elizabeth  yet  by  this 
exploded  act  they  persecute.  I  therefore  beg  Revd  Sir  that 
yr  influence  with  the  Lt.  Gov.  may  effect  my  liberty 

I  am  Rev.  Sir  with 

respt  yr  most  Obd1. 

Hum.  Serv 

Andw.  Doyle 

Such  Sir  is  the  misfortune  of  placing  in  pulpits  Such 
men  as  are  not  able  to  Elucidate  any  doubtful  Hypothesis  or 
expound  to  the  Vulgar  ear  the  nature  and  mysteries  of 
religion. 

By  such  mistakes  is  nature  oft  times  foild 
Such  contrarieties  Fd  never  teach  her. 
Because  an  useful  blacksmith  may  be  spoild, 
By  making  him  an  execrable  preacher. 


314  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

14.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  (Draft). 

Sydney  4th  December  1826 
Sir, 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  you  a  short  list  of  persons 
who  solicit  the  permission  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor  to 
be  united  in  marriage  and  I  regret  to  have  to  state  that  similar 
lists  have  remained  in  your  office  for  more  than  two  months 
without  an  answer  to  the  request  that  accompanied  them. 
The  personal  inconveniences  which  have  resulted  from  this 
delay  altho  numerous  and  great  are  not  as  much  to  be  regretted 
as  the  immorality  and  crimes  which  have  been  the  conse- 
quences of  it.  I  am  confident  however  that  it  has  proceeded 
not  from  neglect  (for  I  believe  there  is  no  Gentleman  in  any 
Country  more  attentive  than  yourself  to  his  official  duties) 
but  from  a  commendable  anxiety  on  your  part  to  prevent  any 
imposition  on  the  officiating  Clergyman.  But  if  you  were 
aware  Sir  of  the.  anxious  solicitude  which  I  invariably  evince 
and  the  various  expedients  which  on  those  occasions  I  con- 
stantly adopt  to  discover  and  defeat  any  attempt  at  imposition 
you  would  save  a  great  deal  of  your  valuable  time  and  pre- 
vent many  evils  of  which  I  have  a  right  (but  do  not  intend) 
to  complain. 

What  good  may  T  be  permitted  to  ask  can  possibly  ensue 
from  compelling  or  inducing  Catholics  to  apply  to  Protestant 
Clergymen  to  have  a  marriage  ceremony  performed  which 
they  believe  and  with  some  reason  to  be  with  regard  to  them 
absolutely  null  and  void, — a  belief  of  which  some  of  them  take 
an  unfair  an  unjust  advantage? 

I  beg  Sir  respectfully  to  assure  you  that  a  sense  of  duty 
alone  and  not  any  sinister  or  interested  motive  induces  me  to 
perform  marriage  ceremonies  attended  as  they  generally  are 
with  much  personal  trouble  and  no  inconsiderable  responsi- 
bility to  the  officiating  Clergyman. 

I  have  derived  very  little  emolument  from  them.  I  do  not 
recollect  since  I  came  to  the  Colony  to  have  required  or  even 
asked  directly  or  indirectly  any  fee  for  their  performance 
altho'  not  prevented  from  doing  so  by  any  law  or  regulation. 

I  might  have  received  one  hundred  pounds  within  a  few 
months  for  the  solemnization  of  two  marriages  which  deeming 
to  be  improper  I  refused  to  celebrate :  the  parties  in  one  case 
were  on  my  refusal  without  any  delay  or  difficulty  married  in 
the  Protestant  Church  both  being  known  to  be  Catholics  and 


APPENDIX    A  315 

afterwards  absented  themselves  until  the  last  sickness  and 
death  of  one  of  the  individuals  from  all  Religious  duties; 
the  parties  in  the  other  lived  in  an  adulterous  connexion  until 
separated  by  the  death  of  the  female  who  expired  without  any 
Religious  consolation. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  Sir 

with  the  greatest  respect 

Your  obt.  humbe.  Servt., 
The  Hon.  Alexr.  MacLeay,  John  Joseph  Therry  R.C.C. 

Col1  Secy 

15.     Charles  Hunt  to  Father  Therry. 

[A  specimen  of  the  letters  of  gratitude  sent  by  convicts.] 

Prospect  Road  Gang, 

April  the  6th  1827 

To  the  Most  honoured  and  Reverend  Jhon  Josep  Terey  Ro- 
man Catholic  Clargy  the  Great  ful  thanks  of  Charles  Hunt 
With  that  of  his  poor  Wife  and  Children  for  his  Most  kind 
and  Good  Carrectar  of  him  the  day  he  was  tryed  on  th  6th 
of  November  Last  at  th  Quarter  Sesons  Most  Reverend  Sir 
I  Realy  think  and  Ever  shall  think  that  it  was  the  almyghty 
God  that  put  you  in  the  Court  that  day  and  that  yo  was  the 
Mains  of  My  parcel  sintince  Reverend  Sir  on  that  Moring 
Be  fore  I  was  Brought  out  of  the  Goal  to  Be  tryed  I  Gave 
my  self  up  Entirely  for  Lost  as  Every  one  was  teling  me  I 
wood  Get  Seven  years  and  My  Wife  3  years  But  thank  God 
th  ware  all  Mistaken.  I  Never  haide  the  Last  tought  of 
Sending  to  any  person  to  Give  me  a  Carrectar  and  indeed 
Reverend  Sir  I  never  tought  of  yo  But  in  th  Moring  of  that 
day  I  had  no  place  in  th  Gale  that  I  could  offer  My  Self  to 
God  But  when  I  Got  th  opertunity  I  went  in  to  th  privey  and 
with  a  Broken  hart  I  prayed  to  God  to  Be  My  frind  that  day 
So  I  Ever  will  consider  that  My  God  put  yo  in  th  Court  house 
that  day  Glory  Be  to  God  Most  honerd  Sir  th  Short  Sentence 
I  Get  is  More  Service  to  me  then  if  I  Got  7  years  for  By 
Geting  7  years  I  wood  Give  My  self  up  for  Despeare  never 
more  to  meet  my  Distressed  Wife  and  Children  Most  Revend 
Sir  th  day  you  past  this  place  in  a  Gig  you  Most  kindly  told 
me  to  send  you  word  when  I  wood  Be  nearly  Laving  this  so 
I  thank  my  God  and  you  My  time  is  up  on  th  6th  of  May  wich 
day  I  will  Be  sent  to  Sydney  I  thearefore  hope  your  Reverence 
will  Enter  feare  for  me  and  as  My  Wife  has  Got  12  Monts  in 
th  factory  you  will  Be  the  Mens  of  Geting  her  time  a  Medea- 


316  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

gated  Should  that  not  be  pleaseing  to  your  Reverence  to  Get 
her  time  Shortned  I  trust  you  will  prevent  me  of  Being  kept 
in  Government  Enployment  But  Let  me  use  my  Endustry  to 
have  sum  Relefe  for  her  By  th  time  She  Laves  th  factory. 
I  only  Got  a  fine  of  Six  monts  so  By  Rite  th  ought  have  no 
more  to  Do  with  me  Reverend  Sir  as  you  weare  th  means  of 
Geting  My  famley  so  many  thousand  mils  to  joine  me  ower 
hole  Dependains  is  in  your  Reverence  to  use  you  Enterest  for 
hus  honerd  Sir  if  i  was  a  person  who  was  Ever  Brought  Be 
fore  a  Judg  for  any  Dishonesty  Be  fore  I  wood  not  Ever  take 
the  Liberty  But  as  Long  as  I  am  in  th  Colney  I  never  was  in 
such  trubl  and  it  was  not  for  thiveing  I  was  sent  heer  from 
My  neative  Cuntry  it  was  for  passing  one  Bank  note  £i  and 
as  for  My  poor  Wife  she  never  was  in  Side  of  a  place  of 
Confinement  Be  fore  this  nor  one  of  her  Breed  I  humbly  hope 
you  will  pardon  th  Liberty  of  Sending  you  such  a  Long  Letter 
so  Most  Reverend  Sir  I  trust  in  God  you  will  not  Let  me  out 
of  you  Mind  as  My  hole  Dependance  Lies  in  you  I  am  Rever- 
end Sir  you  Most  humbl  Servnt 

Charles  Hunt 

16.     Article  in  "The  Gleaner"  of  2  August,  1827. 

[The  Gleaner  was  established  in  1827  by  Lawrence  Halloran.] 

We  have  learned  with  considerable  regret  that  the  School  of 
Industry,  an  Institution,  which  reflects  the  highest  honor  on 
it's  projector,  is  conducted  on  exclusion-principles,  and  tho' 
supported  by  general  contributions,  confines  it's  benefits  to 
children  of  a  particular  Communion.  This,  we  consider  neither 
liberal,  nor  equitable ; — for,  as  subscriptions  are  readily  re- 
ceived without  regard  to  the  religious  faith  of  the  donor,  so  in 
our  judgment,  ought  children  of  every  sect,  to  be  eligible  for 
admission,  as  far  as  the  finances  of  the  Establishment  will  al- 
low the  extension  of  it's  advantages.  Of  the  different  Religion- 
ists in  this  Colony,  the  most  numerous,  and  indigent,  and  un- 
cultivated are  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  to  none  are  the  light 
of  knowledge  and  the  advantages  of  education,  more  desirable, 
or  necessary.  Yet,  if  our  information  be  not  incorrect,  no 
Catholic  children  will  be  received  on  presentation,  except  con- 
ditionally on  the  barter  of  religious  faith  for  the  secular  conven- 
iences of  food,  raiment,  and  education.  This  system  we  deem 
uncharitable,  and  impolitic, — uncharitable,  as  withholding  aid, 
and  instruction,  where  they  are  most  needed: — impolitic,  be- 
cause, tho'  no  contamination  of  principle  needs  be  apprehended, 


APPENDIX    A  317 

from  the  intermixture  of  Catholic  children  with  those  of  the 
Established  church ;  the  conversion  of  the  former  to  the  Pro- 
testant faith  is,  at  least,  possible,  by  the  force  of  example ;  and 
still  more  by  the  probable  future  operation  of  gratitude  to  the 
benefactors  of  their  early  years !  In  truth,  we  should  have 
expected,  that  objections  would  be  made  by  Catholic  parents, 
to  the  exposure  of  their  children  to  religious  apostasy,  by  the 
influence  of  such  considerations,  rather  than  by  Protestant- 
directors,  to  the  reception  of  those  candidates,  except  on  the 
previous  unworthy  compact  of  such  immediate  apostacy !  We 
blush  for  those  of  our  communion,  who  can  offer  to  parents, 
so  base  a  proposal,  as  the  truck  of  principle  for  interest;  a 
system,  as  injudicious  too,  as  it  is  dishonorable !  for  'pur- 
chased conversions  are  never  sincere !'  If  the  poor  Catholic 
children  of  the  Colony  are  to  be  excluded  from  the  benefits 
of  education,  and  the  other  advantages  of  our  public  colonial 
institutions, — the  reproach  of  their  ignorance,  and  continued 
mental  darkness  is  imputable  solely  to  those  unchristian  pre- 
judices, which  would  render  their  participating  of  food,  and 
instruction,  contingent  on  the  religious  opinions  of  their 
parents.  If  however  a  perseverance  in  such  system  be  among 
the  immutable  decrees  of  our  school-of-industry  legislators, 
we  hope,  the  wisdom  of  the  colonial  government,  prompted 
equally  by  Christian  compassion,  and  enlightened  policy,  will 
immediately  direct  the  foundation  of  a  similar,  separate  in- 
stitution for  the  reception  of  Catholic  children,  the  most  in- 
digent, and  the  most  neglected  class  of  'Scions' ;  from  whom 
the  rising  population  of  this  interesting  Colony  will  derive  its 
numerical  consequence,  and  extent!  Pity,  good  policy,  justice, 
alike  dictate  the  imperious  necessity  of  their  early  culture, 
in  moral  habits,  and  in  useful  knowledge.  May  they  not  plead 
in  vain ! 

17.     Michael  Connor  to  Father  Therry. 

Newcastle,  8th  June,  1828. 
Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

I  feel  it  a  duty  I  owe  to  my  God,  my  religion, 
myself  and  Catholic  Brethren,  to  represent  to  you,  beloved  and 
venerated  Pastor,  the  sad  situation  of  this  portion  of  your 
dear  Flock  resident  here,  who  are  not  only  destitute  of  the 
happiness  of  attending  at  that  great  mystery,  or  sacrifice, 
which  (to  use  the  words  of  the  pious  author  of  the  "Imitation 
of  Christ")  "rejoices  the  Heavens,  and  preserves  the  whole 
world",  but  also  of  a  place  wherein  they  could  assemble,  to 


318  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

mourn  their  loss  and  to  render  to  their  God,  all  the  homage 
they  are  able,  on  that  day  he  has  appointed  to  be  kept  holy. 

I  therefore  take  the  liberty  of  proposing  to  you,  to  solicit 
his  Excellency,  not  only  to  allow  the  Catholic  Soldiers,  Free 
Inhabitants,  and  Prisoners  of  the  Crown,  in  this  settlement, 
to  assemble  for  Prayers  on  the  Sabbath  day,  but  also  that  he 
may  be  graciously  disposed  to  appoint  a  place  to  be  appro- 
priated for  that  purpose. 

It  is  a  subject  of  considerable  regret  to  me,  in  common 
with  all  the  members  of  the  Church  under  your  Pastoral  care, 
to  be  acquainted  with  the  fact  of  his  Excellency's  unfriendly 
disposition  towards  you  ("For  if  one  member  suffer,  all  the 
members  suffer  with  it")  and  I  fear  should  you  make  a  re- 
presentation of  this  statement,  his  Excellency  would  remain  re- 
gardless of  our  condition ;  in  order  that  he  may  not  have  an 
opportunity  (or  plea)  of  not  acceding  to  our  wishes,  it  may 
be  pardonable  in  me  to  propose  that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Power 
should  speak  or  write  to  His  Excellency  on  the  subject;  pray- 
ing for  a  favourable  consideration. 

I  calculate  about  One  Flundred  Persons  would  assemble 
every  Sunday.  I  have  spoken  to  a  few  well-inclined  Individ- 
uals who  are  most  anxious  for  it.  My  plan  which  I  proposed 
and  which  I  now  submit  to  you  is  to  select  a  certain  Form  of 
Prayer  to  be  read,  and  a  Chapter  out  of  the  "Imitation", 
"Think  well  on't"  or  other  such  like  books ;  the  persons,  who 
are  to  read  aloud  alternately,  to  be  appointed  or  approved 
by  you. 

Finally  I  beseech  your  exertions  on  behalf  of  an  object 
so  desirable :  calculated  to  promote  the  "Glory  of  God  in  the 
highest,  and  Peace  on  earth  to  men  of  good  will." 
I  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  and  very  Humble  Servant, 

Michael  Connor. 

P.S.  As  His  Excellency  thought  proper  to  withhold  from  me 
the  boon  which  I,  as  a  Free  Settler  sought  after  and  expected, 
altho'  I  submitted  to  a  very  degrading  inquisition  at  the  Land 
Board  Office,  to  which  there  could  be  no  objection — and  as 
I  am  in  this  settlement  out  of  the  way ;  I  respectfully  request 
should  you,  or  the  Revd.  Mr.  Power,  have  any  occasion  to 
advert  to  the  name  of  your  correspondent  here,  that  you  may 
be  pleased  to  withold  the  information  as  much  as  regards  me. 

M.C. 


APPENDIX    A  319 

18.     Father    Therry   to   the   Right    Rev.    Dr.    Poynter 

(Draft). 

My  Dear  Lord, 

Having  to  proceed  to  Liverpool  this  evens,  and 
the  ship  which  is  to  convey  this  letter  being  to  sail  tomorrow 
I  have  time  only  to  present  my  respects  to  your  Lordship 
and  to  acquaint  you  that  Archdeacon  Scott  a  Gentleman  of 
very  amiable  manners  and  for  whom  I  assure  you  I  have 
always  had  since  I  was  honored  with  his  acquaintance  a  very 
high  esteem  has  been  offended  by  my  preventing  Catholics 
from  attending  his  clerical  lectures  (as  he  said  you  had 
authorised  him  to  require  that  attendance),  and  for  having 
put  an  advertisement  a  copy  of  which  I  transmit  in  papers. 

The  accompanying  letter  and  a  copy  of  this  advertisement 
will  I  hope  my  My  Lord  be  for  me  a  sufficent  justification 
against  any  complaint  which  that  Revd.  Gent,  may  think  pro- 
per to  make  and  I  hope  sufficient  to  induce  your  Lordship 
to  offer  your  kind  interposition  with  E1.  Bathurst  in  favor 
of  the  ....   [Cetera  desunt]. 


19.     Lawrence  Halloran  to  Father  Therry* 

Phillip  Street,  Sydney, 

20th  July,  1828. 
Revd.  Sir, 

Without  meaning  to  dispute  your  Right  of 
Application  to  Persons  of  particular  Descriptions  only,  for 
Contributions  towards  the  Erection  of  your  proposed  Chapel: 
I  must  beg  leave  to  question  the  strict  Propriety,  of  your  re- 
jecting the  Subscription  of  any  Individual,  of  whatever  pro- 
fession, who  may  voluntarily  desire,  to  promote  the  laudable 
Object,  you  are  naturally  solisitous  to  effect.  From  the  English 
Catholics  I  formerly  received  many  Obligations.  Several  of 
them,  of  the  first  families,  liberally  confided  to  me,  the  Educa- 
tion of  their  Children.  It  is,  therefore,  my  wish  (from  Grati- 
tude to  them,  as  well  as  from  Principle)  "to  be  permitted  to 
subscribe  my  humble  Offering  toward  the  Promotion  of 
your  Design ;" — a  design,  to  the  furtherance  of  which,  as 
tending  to  advance  the  general  Interests  of  Christianity,  I 
conceive,  all  Considerations  of  the  Distinctions  of  Sect,  all 


320  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

the  different  Shades  of  Opinion,  ought  to  be  unhesitatingly 
sacrificed. 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be, 
Sir,  with  much  truth,  and  esteem, 
Your  faithful,  and  obed.  hble.  Servt.  &c, 

L.  H.  Halloran,  L.P. 

20.     Father  Power  to  the  Sydney  Gazette   (Draft)* 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Sydney  Gazette. 
Sir, 

As  a  particular  favor  I  request  that  you'll  give  inser- 
tion to  the  Genuine  words  of  the  letter. 

Sir, 
A  paragraph  appeard  in  your  paper  of  the  9th  Instant 
stating  that  I  have  resigned  the  Mission  of  New  S.  Wales, 
which  I  request  you'll  have  the  goodness  to  contradict  as  soon 
as  possible  as,  it  is  a  false  and  malicious  attempt  to  alienate 
from  me  the  mind  of  my  flock,  and  to  circulate  as  a  fact  that 
I  have  taken  my  last  farewell  of  them  and  that  I  have  already 
come  to  the  determination  to  resign  the  Mission.  I  now  deny 
that  I  have  neither  taken  my  farewell  of  them  or  resigned  my 
mission  on  the  contrary  with  the  gracious  assistance  of 
Divine  Providence  I  hope  that  in  few  weeks  my  health  shall 
be  so  renovated  that  I  will  be  enabled  to  reassume  my  pastoral 
functions  with  more  energy  than  heretofore. 

21.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  (Draft)* 

Chapel  House,  Hyde  Park, 

27th  April  1830. 
Sir, 

I  greatly  regret  that  His  Excellency  the  Governor  did 
not  condescend  to  direct  some  intimation  to  be  given  to  me, 
the  only  Catholic  Clergyman  in  the  Colony,  as  to  the  time 
when  the  unfortunate  Criminals  now  under  sentence  at  Mait- 
land  Hunters  River  were  to  be  executed  in  order  to  enable 
me  to  proceed  to  that  place  in  time  to  administer  to  them 
before  their  death  the  consolations  of  Religion  a  privilege 
from  which  they  are  not  now  excluded  even  by  the  most 
severe  and  sanguinary  of  our  criminal  laws.  On  Friday  next 
I  have  been  this  morning  informed  by  one  of  your  servants 
the  execution  is  ordered  to  take  place  and  as  the  distance  is 
only  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  it  is  still  possible  for  me 


APPENDIX    A  321 

to  be  there  on  Thursday  evening.  I  beg  to  state  that  I  shall 
even  now  undertake  the  journey  if  His  Exc.  order  me  the 
use  of  a  good  horse  or  any  mode  of  conveyance  either  by  land 
or  water. 


22.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary* 

Chapel  House  Sydney 

17th  Deer.  1830. 

Sir, 

Having  this  morning  learned  that  two  unfortunate  men 
now  under  sentence  of  death  in  the  gaol  of  this  town,  are  to 
be  put  on  board  ship,  to-morrow  morning,  in  order  to  be  re- 
transported  to  Moreton  bay,  and  that  they  are  then  to  be 
executed  in  that  settlement  without  the  attendance,  in  their 
last  awful  hour,  of  a  Clergyman  of  the  Religion  which  they 
profess,  and  in  which  they  wish  to  die,  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty, 
as  their  pastor,  most  respectfully  to  protest  against  this 
aggravated  punishment,  as  being,  in  my  humble  opinion,  both 
cruel  and  illegal.  The  infliction  of  any  punishment  not  sanc- 
tioned by  Law  is,  I  presume,  illegal;  and  to  torture  the  mind 
is  often  a  greater  cruelty  than  to  torture  the  body.  His  Ex- 
cellency's humanity  would  shrink  with  horror  from  the  bare 
idea  of  having  these  unhappy  men  scourged  on  every  day 
during  their  passage,  no  matter  what  good  should  be  likely  to 
result  from  so  dreadful  an  example,  and  yet  His  Excellency 
has  adopted  an  arrangement  by  which  they  are  doomed  to  a 
much  more  severe  and  perhaps  most  fatal  punishment  with- 
out any  certainty  of  a  good  result,  and  with  imminent  danger 
of  a  disastrous  one. 

If  a  small  portion  of  the  money  which  has  recently  been 
so  plentifully  lavished  in  punishing  crime,  had  been  properly 
applied  in  endeavouring  to  prevent  it,  the  Colony  would  be 
more  happy,  secure,  and  contented  than  it  is  at  present,  and 
His  Excellency  should  be  free  from  those  anxieties  which  a 
generous  and  well  intentioned  Ruler  must  unavoidably  feel 
under  its  present  circumstances. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  Sir 

with  great  respect 
Your  most  obt.  humbl.  Servt. 

John  Joseph  Therry. 


322 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


23.     A  Page  from  Father  Therry's  Diary  for  1833* 

[The  entries  for  the  18th  and  19th  are  significant.  The  entry  for  the 
18th  was  evidently  written  before  dinner,  while  Father  Therry  was  still 
ignorant  of  Father  Ullathorne's  position.  On  the  19th,  when  he  knew 
himself  superseded,  he  made  no  explicit  comment,  but  used  the  formula 
submitting  himself  to  the  Divine  Will.  At  a  later  date  he  added  a 
respectful  entry  concerning  Father  Ullathorne's  arrival.] 

Feb.  4th.  Administered  Ex  Unc  to  Catherine  Green 
Gen.  Hos.    Plen  ind. 

Saturday  8  Mass  at  Major  Druitts  received  £1-0-0  came  to 
Sydney. 

Sunday  9  Mass  in  Parramatta  Factory  &  Jail  left  Syd- 
ney this  Morn. 

10  Do.  at  Mr.  Hays'es  South  Creek  rec'd  £2-0-0. 

11  returned  to  Sydney. 

12  proceeded  to  a  sick  person  in  Campbelltown 
very  heavy  rain. 

14  left  Campbelltown  arrived  at  Liverpool  7  in 
the  morn  attended  two  persons  in  the  Liver- 
pool hospital  and  started  for  Sydney  in  the 
Coach  arrived  at  11  o'clock  two  Sick  Calls  to 
attend  in  Sydney  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mc  very  ill  for 
some  days. 

Mass  in  St.  Joseph's  Chapel. 
Do.        do.       heard    confession    &    performed 
other  duties  until  a  very  late  hour  during  the 
last  week  suffered  much  from  swelled  feet  and 
knees. 

Mass  in  Castlereagh  St.  Court  House  at  9  & 
12  o'clock. 

Started  for  Paramatta  after  spending  the  whole 
day  in  the  performance  of  several  duties  and 
was  obliged  to  return  to  perform  others,  heard 
of  the  arrival  of  another  Clergyman  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ullathorne,  who  came  to  the  Chapel  House 
and  remained  to  sleep. 

19  Mass  in  St.  Joseph's  Chapel  performed  two 
baptisms  &  two  marriages  Receiv'd  one  per- 
son in  the  Church. 

Fiat  laudetur  atque  in  aternum  super  exaltetur 
Justissima  altissima  et  amabilissima  voluntas 
Dei  in  omnibus!     Amen. 

Started  for  Parramatta  to  attend  a  sick  person 
about  6  o'clock. 


15 
16 


17 
18 


APPENDIX    A  323 

20  Ash  Wednesday  returned  to  Sydney  in  the  Mail 
Coach  attended  the  Court  in  the  Equity  case  in 
the  evening  after  dinner  visited  the  Hospital 
and  recited  the  rosary  in  St.  Joseph's  Chapel 
went  out  on  some  business  retired  to  rest  about 
twelve  o'clock. 
[At  bottom  of  page,  added  at  a  later  date  in  firmer  handwriting.] 
1 8th  Feby.  1833.  Arrival  of  Very  Rev.  W.  B.  Ullathorne, 
Vicar-General. 

24.     Extract  from  Diary,  July-Aug.  1833* 
[This  shows  the  nature  of  Father  Therry's  work  in  the  country  dis- 
tricts.   In  May  of  this  year  he  had  made  a  similar  tour  in  the  Hunter 
district,  and  in  October  he  visited  the  Bathurst  district.] 
Satur  27  July     proceeded  to  Campbell  town 
Sun.       28       Mass  in  the  Court  House  sd  place  Exhortation 

on  the  Gosl.   [i.e.  Gospel] 
Mon.      29       S.P.P.  two  Baptisms  went  to  Camden 
Mon       30       Mass  in  Campbell  town  at  Mr.  Byrnes  a  bapm. 
visited   Mr.   Write  admd.   ex  unc  to   him   pro- 
ceeded to    Browns   a   mistake   occurred   in   the 
dates f   Sat  28th  Mass  at  R.  Therrys  Sun  29th 
at  Ctown 
31st  Tues       Left   Mr.    Browns   Mass   at   Mr.   Galvins    Pro- 
ceeded to  Cawdor. 
Thurs  1st  August    Left  Bargo  Tavern  arrived  at  Blakes  in 

evening 
Fri.       2nd       Left  Mr.  Blakes  Bong  Bong  arrived  at  night  at 

Goulburn  plains 
Sat       3rd       Mass  at  Mr.  Helys  in  hon  S.  A. 
Sun      4th       Mass   Do.   Do.   Baptd.  3  children 
Mon.     5th       Mass  in  Goulburn  plains  Proceeded  to  Barbers. 
Tues     6th       Left  Mr.  Barbers  went  to  Goulburn  plains  cele- 
brated Mass  then  to  Mr.  Reddalls 
Wens    7th       proceeded   from   Mr.    Reddalls   Station   to   Mr. 
Hume   celebrated    Mass    and    went    on    to    Mr. 
O'Brians 
Thurs  8th       Visited  Mr.  Davies  proceeded  from  Yass  Plains 

to  Mr.  Keilys. 
Fri  9th  Left  Mr.  Keilys  arrived  at  Yass  plains  called  to 
Mr.  O'Brians  then  to  Mr.  Mantons  then  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Davis  whom  conly.  Bapd.  after  re- 
ceiving him  into  the  Church  &  adm.  Ex  Unc  re- 
mained all  night. 

fin   1833  the  30th  of  July  was  in   fact  a   Tuesday. 


324 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


Sat 

10th 

Sun 

nth 

Mon 

1 2th 

Tues 

13th 

Wens 

14th 

Thurs  15 

Fri 

16 

Sat 

17 

Sun 

18 

Mon 

19 

Tues 

20th 

Wen 

2TSt 

Thur: 

3  22nd 

Friday  23rd 

Sat 

24th 

Sun 

25th 

Mon 

26 

Tues 

27 

Left  Mr.  Davis  proceeded  to  Mr.  Humes  cele- 
brated Mass  and  Baptd  his  child  about  to  go  to 
Goulburn  plains. 
Mass  at  Mr.  Helys 

proceeded  to  Mr.  Kennys  Lake  George 
Quadrant  Flats  co  Argyle  Baptd  a  child 
Brisbane    Meadow   arrived    from    Lake   George 
Bapd,  a  child 

Mass  at  Mr.   Mitchels  proceeded  to  Mr.   Bar- 
bers Baptd.  five  children 
proceeded  on  the  way  to  Bong  Bong 

Called  at  Mr.  Atkinsons 

Mass  in   Com1.   Stores   Exhor11.   on  the   Gospel 
3  baptisms  one  marriage 

WolJondilly  Baptd.  a  child 
arrived  at  Bargo  from  thence  on 
to  Campbell  town  thence  to  Liv-1  &  on 

attended  Hospital  visited  another  sick  person 

returned  to  Campbell  town 

Heard  confessions  &c 
Mass  in  Court  House  Exhortation  one  Bapm. 

Proceeded  to  Liverpool  visited  hospital  thence 
to  Parramatta  visited  hosl.  proceeded  to  Sydney. 


25.     The  Chevalier  Dillon  to  Father  Therry* 

[The  Chevalier  Dillon  in   1826-7  discovered  on  Vanikoro  I.  relics 
of  the  expedition  of  La  Perouse.] 

Hotel  Meurice,  Rue  St.  Honore,  Paris, 
3rd  August  1831. 

My  dear  Sir, 

This  letter  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr.  Luke 
Dillon  who  goes  out  to  your  Colony  under  unfortunate  cir- 
cumstances. An  account  of  his  case  you  have  no  doubt  seen 
in  the  public  prints  which  I  regret  to  say  is  nearly  unfounded 
on  truth.  He  is  an  injured  man  as  you  will  perceive  by  some 
pamphlets  which  he  takes  out  with  him  regarding  his  trial. 
If  you  can  do  anything  for  this  gentleman  to  aleviate  his  mis- 
fortunes under  existing  circumstances  you  will  confer  a  great 
favor  on  me.  With  respect  to  my  affairs  in  this  country  I 
must  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  Mr.  Moore  of  Pit  Street  to 


APPENDIX    A  325 

whom  I  have  written  a  long  letter.   I  am  in  hopes  of  returning 
to  the  Colony  the  moment  my  affairs  are  arranged  here. 

I   remain, 

My  dear  Sir, 

Yours  very  truly, 

Peter  Dillon. 

26.     Specimen  of  an  Employer's  Undertaking  re  the 
Marriage  of  a  Convict  Servant. 

Mrs.  Brooks  of  Denham  Court  has  no  objection  to  her 
Government  servant  Henry  Phipps  getting  married  (if  the 
Governor's  permission  can  be  obtained)  he  is  nearly  due  for 
his  Ticket  and  is  a  good  Workman  and  quite  able  to  maintain 
a  Wife. 

Denham  Court 

April  25th   1834. 

I  also  hold  myself  responsible  for  the  maintenance  of  the  said 
Henry  Phipps  until  he  obtains  his  Ticket  of  Leave. 

2j.     "Copy  of  Memorial  to  the  Right  Reverend  Doctor 

POLDING  IN  FAVOR  OF  THE  REV.  J.  J.  THERRY,  PRESENTED 
BY     THE     LAY     MEMBERS     OF     THE     COMMITTEE     OF     St. 

Mary's  Church." 

[Printed  paper,   dated   ''Sydney   October   1835."] 

To  The 

RIGHT  REV.  DOCTOR  POLDING 

Catholic  Bishop  of  New  South  Wales,  Van  Diemen's  Land, 

&c,  &c.  &c. 


WTE  the  undersigned  Catholics  of  Sydney  lay  Members  of 
the  Committee  of  Saint  Mary's  Church,  beg  leave  to  approach 
your  Lordship,  and  to  congratulate  you  on  your  safe  arrival 
at  the  seat  of  your  extensive  Diocese.  The  arrival  of  such  a 
prelate  as  your  Lordship  amongst  us  was  hailed  by  us,  in  com- 
mon with  all  other  Members  of  our  Communion,  with  great 
joy;  and  this  joy  was  increased  when  we  heard  your  Lordship, 
on  the  day  of  your  public  entry  into  our  elegant  Cathedral, 
speak  in  such  high  terms  of  the  zealous  and  pious  pastor,  who 
has  been  Instrumental,  under  God,  in  raising  that  Building 
from  the  ground. 

We  beg  to  state  to  your  Lordship,  that  there  is  a  rumour 
abroad  that  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  are  about  to  be 


326  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

deprived  of  the  Ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  Joseph  Therry; 
and  whilst  we  deprecate  the  idea  of  any  thing  like  dictation 
to  your  Lordship,  or  undue  lay  interference  with  your  Lord- 
ship's Episcopal  arrangements,  we  respectfully  beg  leave  to 
submit  that  the  removal  of  this  Rev.  Gentleman  from  the 
Capital  of  the  Territory  will  not,  in  our  opinion,  be  service- 
able to  the  interests  of  Religion.  On  his  arrival  in  this  Colony, 
a  great  many  years  ago,  he  found  us  a  scattered  and  a  despised 
Flock,  but  by  his  preaching  and  his  great  labours  he  formed 
us  into  a  body.  He  was  the  first  to  break  to  us  the  Bread  of 
Life.  He  it  is  by  whom  our  Children  were  regenerated  with 
the  waters  of  Baptism,  made  children  of  God  and  members  of 
the  fold  of  Christ,  we  have  known  and  witnessed  his  virtues 
his  toils  and  his  industry  for  the  advancement  of  religion,  and 
the  best  interests  of  the  Church  and  its  Temporalities  for  the 
last  fifteen  years,  the  days  of  his  vigour  and  his  youth  have 
been  devoted  to  the  objects  of  our  spiritual  and  temporal  hap- 
piness, and  have  now  passed  away  St.  Mary's  Church  which 
stands  a  Monument  of  his  good  taste  and  perseverance  has 
been  erected  mainly  through  his  great  labour  industry  and 
influence,  there  is  no  Inhabited  part  of  the  Territory  of  New 
South  Wales  in  an  Area  of  30,000  square  miles  wherein  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Therry  has  not  been  frequently  seen  administering 
the  last  rights  of  Religion  to  the  expiring  Catholic,  comforting 
the  sick  and  consoling  the  afflicted.  We  cannot  represent  his 
character  in  more  forcible  and  appropriate  language  than  the 
late  Doctor  Halloran  did  on  one  occasion  "we  have  not  (says 
that  writer)  read  the  volume  of  human  nature  in  vain  we  have 
also,  we  dare  aver  indisputably,  evinced  our  utter  aversion 
from  servility  and  flattery.  In  expressing,  therefore,  our  genu- 
ine sentiments  of  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  though  we  deny  not 
the  possibility  of  error  in  judgment  we  peremptorily  disclaim, 
every  imputation  of  partiality  or  adulation  when  we  pronounce 
him  one  of  the  most  faultless  human  characters  that  has  ever 
met  our  observation  or  cognizance,"  such,  may  it  please  your 
Lordship,  was  the  language  of  a  Protestant  Minister  and  great 
writer. 

But  if  further  testimonials  of  the  worth  of  our  Reverend 
and  faithful  Pastor  be  required  we  would  beg  leave  to  refer 
your  Lordship  to  the  several  memorials,  so  numerously  and 
so  respectably  signed,  which  have  been  presented  in  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Therry's  favor  to  the  late  and  present  Governor  of  this 
Colony.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Therry,  may  it  please  your  Lordship,  in 
effecting  the  great  work  of  good  which  he  has  effected  had 


APPENDIX    A  327 

many  and  great  difficulties  to  encounter.  It  was  his  misfortune 
some  seven  or  eight  years  since  to  fall  under  the  censure  of 
the  Government,  for  an  act  which  he  considered  at  the  time 
one  of  duty  to  his  God  and  to  his  flock,  and  in  which  his  own 
personal  interest  or  advantage  had  no  share;  but  which  has 
opperated  on  the  succeeding  Government  as  a  powerful  im- 
pediment to  all  his  exertions.  He  was  deprived  of  the  small 
stipend  which  he  had  been  previously  allowed  by  the  Govern- 
ment, and  with  it  a  great  portion  of  that  influence  concomitant 
with  every  respectable  office  held  under,  or  supported  by  the 
Crown.  Notwithstanding  all  impediments  he  persevered  to  the 
end.  The  Secretary  for  the  Colonies,  Earl  Bathurst,  during 
the  early  part  of  the  Government  of  General  Darling,  sent  out 
directions  to  the  latter  to  make  him  an  offer  of  £300  (three 
hunderd  pounds)  on  the  understanding  that  he  should  leave 
the  Colony;  but  this  offer  he  declined  to  accept,  he  did  not 
abandon  his  flock,  he  acted  the  part  of  a  faithful  shepherd. 

We  think  it  a  duty  we  owe  the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry,  to  repre- 
sent to  your  Lordship  that  by  whatever  act  of  his,  he  has  in- 
cured  the  displeasure  of  the  Home  Government,  it  is  our  firm 
conviction  that  no  man  living  could  entertain  a  higher  or  more 
proper  respect  for  the  constituted  authorities  than  he  has  always 
entertained,  it  is  a  doctrine  which  as  a  Clergyman  and  as  a  man, 
he  has  frequently  inculcated  upon  ourselves  and  our  children, 
and  we  firmly  believe  him  to  be  incapable  of  voluntarily  offend- 
ing any  Government.  But  though  the  displeasure  of  the  Gov- 
ernment were  still  to  pursue  him  for  an  error  (which  we  know 
was  an  involuntary  error)  we  had  hoped  that  under  your 
Lordship's  paternal  care  the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry,  would  find 
that  protection  and  repose  to  which,  in  our  opinion,  his  long 
and  eminent  services  to  the  Church,  and  to  us  so  well  entitle 
him,  and  that  in  the  arrangement  of  your  Lordship's  Episcopal 
appointments  we  should  not  be  deprived  of  his  Ministry  in 
Sydney. 

In  your  Lordship's  first  address  to  your  flock,  when  you 
were  pleased  to  advert  to  the  many  good  qualities  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Therry,  we  infered  from  such  approval  of  his  conduct 
that  he  would  be  a  permanent  resident  in  the  Capital  of  this 
Colony,  and  we  respectfully  beg  to  assure  your  Lordship  that 
the  well-learned  encomiums  passed  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry, 
on  the  occasion  to  which  we  have  just  adverted  has  been  a 
great  cause  of  acquiring  for  your  Lordship,  great  popularity. 

We  now  respectfully  beg  leave  to  request  that  your  Lord- 
ship will  be  pleased  to  realize  the  expectations  which  we  have 


27 


ANDREW  BYRNE. 
THOMAS  H1GGINS. 
JOHN  LEARY. 
WILLIAM  DAVIS. 
WILLIAM  REYNOLDS 
ANDREW  HIGGINS. 
JAMES  DEMPSEY. 
M.  BURKE. 
JOHN  O'SULLIVAN. 
EDMOND  REDMOND. 


328  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

indulged  since  your  arrival  that  the  Rev.  John  Joseph  Therry, 
may  in  future  be  stationed  in  Sydney,  should  your  Lordship, 
however,  not  grant  our  humble,  but  earnest  request,  we  cannot 
avoid  expressing  our  candid  opinion  that  the  removal  of  that 
Pastor  from  this  town  and  the  Dwelling  which  he  has  himself 
erected,  will  not  be  matter  of  joy  to  any  but  on  the  contrary 
it  will  be  felt  by  us,  our  wives  and  childern,  as  if  each  of  us 
and  of  them  was  deprived  of  the  society  of  a  father  or  a  near 
and  dear  friend. 

ADAM  WILSON.  r       On  reference  to  the  Second 

R.^MURPHY.  ^  ^  parragraph   of  this   memorial 

your  Lordship  will  perceive 
that  we  disclaim  all  interfer- 
ence with  any  Ecclesiastical 
arrangements  your  Lordship 
may  think  proper  to  make 
with  the  same  sense  of  pro- 
priety as  expressed  below  by 
Mr.  Plunkett. 

I  so  fully  concur  in  every  sentiment  of  this  memorial  re- 
specting the  great  merits  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Therry,  that  I  can- 
not withhold  my  signature  from  it,  but  I  cannot  concur  in  that 
part  of  it  which  goes  to  interfere  with  any  Ecclesiastical  ar- 
rangements the  Bishop  may  think  proper  to  make. 

JOHN  H.  PLUNKETT. 

In  terms  of  the  above — 

THOMAS  CONNOLLY. 


28.     Thomas  O'Keeffe  to  Father  Therry* 

Cork, 

Douglas  St. 

May  24/36. 

Rev.  dear  Six, 

The  young  Gentleman  who  will  deliver  this  note 
is  the  son  of  a  particular  friend  of  mine.  He  wishes  to  visit 
your  part  of  the  world  though  he  could  be  very  respectably 
established  in  his  native  City.  I  am  sure  I  need  not  ask  your 
best  services  for  him.  Your  advice  is  all  that  he  may  require 
and  I  cannot  confide  his  interests  temporal  and  eternal  to 
more  zealous  hands  than  yours.   Believe  me, 

Sincerely  yours, 

Tfios.  O'Keeffe. 


APPENDIX    A  329 

29.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan. 

Campbell  town,   10th  May   1837. 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  can  no  longer  cherish  the  fond  hope,  I  had  for 
many  years  indulged,  of  seeing  once  more  my  native  land;  as 
the  principal  inducement  I  had  to  visit  it  no  longer  exists ;  my 
dearest  Mother  is  no  more. — Requiescat  in  pace,  Amen. — Her 
death  was  announced  to  me  on  yesterday  by  a  communication 
from  my  old  and  highly  valued  friend  Mr.  Goolding.  I  have 
just  returned  from  Red  Bank  near  Stone  quarry  &  expect 
to  start  for  Sydney  long  before  sun  rise  to-morrow,  it  is 
now  ten  o'Clock  P.M.  I  had  it  in  contemplation  during  the 
last  fortnight  to  request  of  you  to  transmit  for  me  fifty  pounds 
to  her ;  but  I  was  waiting  for  the  proceeds  of  the  Cattle  lately 
driven  down  by  Mr.  Vardy,  &  of  the  hay,  the  produce  of 
the  Menangle  farm,  which  he  engaged  also  to  dispose  of  on  my 
account.  But  as  I  have  been  almost  constantly  from  home, 
since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  and  have  not  recently 
had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  him,  I  do  not  know  whether  or 
not  he  has  effected  as  yet  a  sale  of  either  or  of  both.  I  have 
some  hope  of  being  enabled  to  visit  Goulburn  in  the  course 
of  the  ensuing  week,  and  to  ascertain  before  then  the  state  of 
my  funds,  if  any  I  have.  Ever  My  dear  Sir  affectionately 
yours 

John  Joseph  Therry. 


30.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  (Draft). 

Sydney  15th  Feby.  1838. 
Sir, 

Permit  me  to  have  the  honor  through  you  again  to  sub- 
mit the  case  of  the  unfortunate  men  named  in  the  margin  to 
the  favorable  consideration  of  His  Excellency  the  Acting  Gov- 
ernor. They  were  convicted  of  an  assault  of  a  truly  horrible 
nature  nearly  four  years  since  on  the  sole  &  in  every  respect 
unsupported  evidence  of  the  Prosecutrix  who  to  say  the  least 
was  not  of  an  unexceptionable  character,  who  is  known  to 
have  prevaricated  considerably  whilst  giving  that  evidence  & 
who  acknowledged  to  me  that  she  had  no  recollection  what- 
ever of  the  assault  until  ten  o'Clock  on  the  morning  after  she 
supposed  it  to  have  been  committed.  With  a  knowledge  of 
these  circumstances  a  deep  impression  that  the  parties  ac- 
cused were  innocent  &  a  firm  reliance  on  the  humanity  of 


330  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

our  late  Excellent  Governor  I  applied  for  and  obtained  from 
His  Excellency  a  respite  of  a  few  days  for  the  three  who  were 
to  be  executed  on  the  following  day  &  having  obtained  in 
that  interval,  several  testimonials  of  the  previous  good  con- 
duct of  the  accused  &  strong  circumstantial  evidence  on 
oath  as  to  their  innocence  of  that  charge,  their  sentence  with 
the  approbation  of  The  Hon.  the  Executive  Council  was  com- 
muted to  transportation  for  life  to  Norfolk  Island.  As  my 
conviction  of  their  innocence  (and  I  cannot  be  suspected  of 
any  undue  bias  or  partiality  towards  them  as  they  were  all 
unknown  to  me  &  not  even  one  of  them  is  a  Catholic)  con- 
tinues unaltered  I  trust  I  do  not  exceed  my  duty  in  availing 
myself  of  an  opportunity  presented  by  the  present  juncture  of 
bringing  their  case  under  the  consideration  of  a  Governor  dis- 
tinguished for  his  humanity  as  well  as  his  valour  &  who  as 
a  member  of  the  Hon.  the  Executive  Council  has  already  had 
a  considerable  knowledge  of  its  circumstances. 

[Endorsed]  Case  of  men  respited  and  sent  to  N.  I.  Blaxlands. 


31.    Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan. 

Campbelltown  31st  March   1838. 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  have  this  moment  been  complaining  to  our 
mutual  friend  Mr.  D.  that  my  pen,  ink,  light,  sight  and  temper 
are  bad,  all  bad.  I  have  this  evening  returned  from  Sydney 
and  as  I  slept  not  many  hours  last  night  &  felt  rather 
fatigued  on  my  arrival  I  have  since  indulged  myself  by  a  nap 
on  my  very  narrow  couch,  when  I  have  been  favoured  with  a 
visit  by  a  Mr.  Duggan  late  of  the  Normal  Institution,  who 
kindly  offers  to  carry  to  you  any  communication  which  I  may 
have  to  send.  I  had  a  few  minutes  before  received  your  letter 
of  the  28th  inst.  and  was  glad  to  learn  from  it  that  you  had 
engaged  Gallagher  for  me  as  I  believe  him  to  be  an  honest 
man.  The  Auction  or  rather  the  intended  one  has  not,  in 
consequence  of  the  unfavourable  state  of  the  weather  &  the 
small  number  of  persons  in  attendance  on  the  day  appointed 
for  it,  taken  place;  a  circumstance  not  very  favorable  to  the 
state  of  my  Exchequer  (Vide  the  effaced,  if  it  be  possible, 
date  of  this).  The  Rt.  Revd.  Dr.  Polding  informed  me  last 
night,  but  wished  that  it  should  not  be  made  known  to  many 
persons  I  trust  he  did  not  mean  to  any  person  that  he  intends 
to  send  to  me  on  a  new  &  distant  mission  for  some  months, 


APPENDIX    A  331 

for  which  I  am  required  to  be  in  immediate  preparation;  so 
that  I  have  reason  to  fear  that  it  will  be  at  least  some  months 
before  I  shall  again  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  You 
must  in  my  absence  act  as  my  agent.  Send  instructions  (ac- 
cording to  your  own  discretion)  to,  and  require  communica- 
tions from  the  Station  at  Billey  bong  as  often  as  your  con- 
venience may  permit:  and  neglect  not  to  direct  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham to  consign  the  produce  of  the  Station  to  your  house  & 
to  no  other  &  to  dispose  of  nothing  without  your  written  au- 
thority. Some  persons  appear  to  regret  that  the  auction  did 
not  go  on  at  the  time  appointed  &  say  that  several  persons 
were  present  in  the  rooms  &  outside  them  who  were  deter- 
mined to  give  more  for  the  Allotments  than  their  present 
value — but  having  left  the  matter  to  the  discretion  of  the  Auc- 
tioneer, I  did  not  wish  further  to  interfere.  I  did  expect  to 
receive  £20  for  each  of  the  front  &  £10  for  each  of  the  back 
half -acre  allotments  &  do  still  believe  that  by  private  sale 
these  respective  sums  may  be  obtained  them.  I  have  not  at 
present  a  single  pound  of  my  own  that  is  not  appropriated  to 
some  specific  object,  a  longer  explanation  is  not  necessary 
for  you.  Having  purchased  of  Mr.  Michael  Ryan  two  horses 
&  five  bullocks  (beside  another  working  bullock  which  he 
lent  to  one  of  my  servants  about  eighteen  months  ago  & 
which  is  now  at  the  Station)  I  hereby  transmit  the  bill  I  pro- 
mised for  the  balance  due  to  him,  and  another  for  that  due 
to  you.  It  is  probable  that  I  shall  have  to  celebrate  Divine 
service  at  Berrima,  on  Sunday  the  8th  prox°.  as  there  are 
two  sick  calls  to  be  attended  next  week,  in  that  neighbourhood 
but  I  cannot  be  certain  till  I  hear  again  from  the  Bishop.  Lest 
you  should  have  any  excuse,  or  plan,  or  pretence  for  prevent- 
ing my  dear  friend  Bridget  from  attending  at  the  Sacred  cere- 
monies of  holy  week,  in  Sydney,  I  hereby  summon  &  re- 
quire her  to  lay  by,  &  extricate  herself  from  all  excuses, 
plans,  &  pretences,  &  to  appear  in  her  proper  person  (her 
attorney  will  not  answer)  at  her  Majesty's  Court  of  Requests, 
to  be  holden  on  Thursday  next  at  the  said  town  of  Berrima, 
&  thence  to  proceed  to  Sydney,  without  any  unnecessary  de- 
lay, for  the  purpose  of  attending  highly  important  proceed- 
ings, with  which  her  interests  are  intimately  connected,  of  the 
Ecclesiastical  Court  to  be  holden  on  the  following  week  in 
said  town. 

Ever  aflecly.  yours, 

John  Joseph  Therry. 


332  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

32.     Bishop  Polding  to  John  O'Sullivan  (Extract). 

[Postmarked  July  11,  1838.] 
My  dear  Sir, 

*****  5j( 

Mr.  Plunkett  informed  me,  he  had  sent  you  a  copy  of 
Dr.  Ullathorne's  Pamphlet  on  the  Moral  state  of  this  Country. 
It  is  rather  highly  coloured  in  some  parts  and  I  fear  will 
give  offence  in  some  quarters.  In  Ireland  it  has  produced  al- 
ready in  Liverpool  and  Manchester  also  the  best  effects  in 
removing  the  delusions  spread  abroad  respecting  the  life  of 
a  convict  in  this  Country.  It  has  undeceived  the  lower  orders  in 
this  particular  and  I  believe  will  prevent  hundreds  from  the 
commission  of  crime.  If  it  has  a  sinister  effect  on  the  tem- 
poral prosperity  of  the  Tory  large  landholders  let  them  thank 
themselves.  They  have,  as  Mr.  Hall  says  completely  overshot 
their  mark.  Their  complaints  of  the  late  Governor  for  his 
leniency — their  lying  statements  in  Mudie's  Felonry — have 
brought  down  on  them  a  just  judgment.  They  are  held  up  as 
the  delinquents,  and  that  System  by  which  they  have  fat- 
tened their  Estates  and  aggrandised  themselves  must  fall.  No 
benefit  greater  than  this  could  accrue  to  this  country.  The 
convict  system  is  creating  amongst  us  the  aristocracy  of 
wealth,  the  worst  of  all  tyrannies;  it  drives  a  wedge  into  the 
joints  of  Society,  it  perpetuates  bad  feelings,  insolence  and 
oppression  flourish  under  it,  and  labour  the  honor  of  a  people, 
industry  its  safeguard,  become  discreditable — the  children 
grow  up  with  all  the  degraded  propensity  of  slave-holders.  The 
cries  of  the  banished  children  are  at  length  heard ;  every  friend 
of  humanity  will  soon  hold  a  feast  day  for  the  destruction  of 
the  most  horrible  system  of  penal  legislation  that  was  ever 
devised. 

You  will  perceive  in  the  Monitor  that  a  snug  domination 
of  Protestant  Toryism  at  Brisbane  water  has  not  been  per- 
mitted to  indulge  its  vagaries  without  reproof.  Since  this  Gov- 
ernor came  there  have  been  outbreakings  of  this  same  spirit 
in  various  quarters,  and  I  thought  it  high  time  to  interfere. 
He  has  made  regulations  respecting  the  Gaol  which  do  not 
please  me.  Governor  Bourke  had  been  applied  to  to  make 
them  but  he  would  not.  The  prisoner  under  sentence  who 
wishes  to  change  his  religion  must  notify  his  wish  to  the 
Sheriff,  thro'  whom  it  will  be  communicated  to  the  Chaplain. 
The  prisoner  confined  only  must  intimate  his  wish  to  the 
Minister  of  the  religion  he  intends  to  relinquish  before  he  can 


APPENDIX    A  333 

become  a  follower  of  another.  Foolish  regulations  these,  evi- 
dently intended  to  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  conversion. 
I  scarcely  know  how  I  can  tangibly  object  to  them.  I  do  not 
like  them,  still  less  the  spirit  manifested  in  the  promulgation 
of  them. 

From  Mr.  Therry,  I  regret  to  say,  I  have  not  received  one 
line,  tho'  these  two  last  months  have  been  to  me  of  much 
anxiety.  I  have  had  letters  from  Hobart  Town  and  seen  per- 
sons thence  by  whom  I  am  informed  that  much  good  has  been 
done  since  his  arrival.  The  large  assembly  rooms  have  been 
taken  as  a  temporary  Chapel,  a  seraphine  purchased,  the  ques- 
tion of  the  land  not  yet  disposed  of.  Mr.  Conolly  shows  a  dis- 
positon  to  be  somewhat  friendly,  a  disposition  I  trust  Mr. 
Therry  will  guard  against.  In  health  and  spirits  Mr.  T.  is  all 
we  could  wish.  My  blessings  and  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  O'S. 
to  whom  Mr.  Gregory  desires  you  will  also  give  his  remem- 
brance and  request  that  the  Collarines  may  soon  find  their  way 
to  Sydney  as  he  is  destitute  of  them  and  many  will  be  wanted 
by  the  Clergy  when  they  arrive.  You  will  rejoice  to  know 
that  our  late  good  Governor  has  written  letters  from  Rio 
which  assure  us  of  his  health  being  good.  His  land  journey 
was  pleasant  and  speedy,  the  greater  part  in  a  carriage,  mak- 
ing 800  miles  in  1 1  days.  He  hoped  to  be  in  London  about  the 
middle  of  June.  He  will  be  examined  before  the  House  of 
Commons  I  do  not  doubt.  Dr.  Ullathorne  has  received  notice 
to  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  be  examined. 

Adieu,  receive  my  blessing  and  affectionate  regards. 

►J^J.   B.   POLDING. 

33.      Bishop  Polding  to  Father  Therry 

Sydney  July   12th  1838. 
My  dear  Mr.  Therry, 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  two  let- 
ters from  Hobart  Town,  one  from  Mr.  Hackett,  another  from 
Mr.  Rowe,  each  giving  me  pleasing  accounts  of  the  improve- 
ment which  has  taken  place  since  your  arrival.  I  am  ex- 
tremely anxious  to  hear  from  yourself.  The  unfortunate 
subject  of  my  last  letter  is  a  cause  of  much  pain  to  me, 
and  certainly  I  did  calculate  that  ere  this  I  should  have 
heard  that  the  measures  I  recommended  were  carried  into 
effect.  Even  the  very  circumstance  of  Mr.  W.  officiating 
as  chief  Clergyman  in  V.D.L.  has  excited  rumors  in  Eng- 
land not  creditable  to  my  jurisdiction.    That  he  should  desist 


334  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

from  Missionary  duty  is  absolutely  necessary.  To  bring 
this  about  so  that  scandal  may  not  ensue  is  most  desirable.  I 
entreat  you  will  not  delay  to  write  to  me  and  inform  me  what 
has  been  done. 

Owing  to  a  neglect  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Watkins  most  un- 
accountable and  notwithstanding  my  strong  injunction  that 
application  should  be  made  for  the  means  to  defray  the  out- 
fit and  passage  of  four  Priests  for  Van  D.  Land,  no  provision 
to  that  effect  has  been  made ;  the  consequence  will  be  that 
V.D.L.  will  remain  without  additional  Clergymen  for  many 
months  longer.  That  no  further  time  be  lost,  I  beg  that  ap- 
plication may  be  made  so  soon  as  the  Council  sits,  for  a  Vote 
authorising  the  issue  of  Money  for  the  out-fit  and  passage  of 
four  Priests.  Let  this  application  be  made  and  entered  upon 
the  Supplementary  Vote  for  this  year.  I  think  it  would  be 
well  to  see  the  Governor  on  the  subject,  and  to  ascertain 
whether  any  provision  has  been  made,  which  might  be  ren- 
dered available  to  this  purpose.  It  is  most  important  to  have 
this  done  with  the  least  possible  delay,  as  it  will  be  impossible 
to  send  out  Priests  from  England  or  Ireland  till  pecuniary 
means  are  at  command.  Nay,  I  would  urge  the  sitting  of  an 
extraordinary  Council  for  this  vote.  Had  this  been  obtained 
in  due  time,  three  Clergymen  at  least  would  have  been  on  their 
Voyage  ere  this. 

I  am  daily  expecting  the  Rev.  Mr.  Murphy  with  five  other 
Priests  for  N.S.W.  These  were  ordained  at  Maynooth  in  Ad- 
vent last  expressly  for  this  Mission.  They  have  embarked  in 
the  Cecilia  wh.  was  to  sail  in  March,  so  that  we  have  reason 
to  look  for  their  arrival.  I  have  deferred  my  journey  into 
the  interior,  till  I  shall  have  the  consolation  of  receiving  them. 

Mr.  Goold  is  very  busily  engaged  in  preparing  some  Child- 
ren and  Converts  for  their  first  Communion.  I  shall  be  with 
him  in  a  few  days,  when  I  hope  to  find  the  building  of  the 
Church  at  Appin  resumed. 

Many  enquiries  are  made  from  me  respecting  you.  Enable 
me  to  answer  them  more  satisfactorily  than  I  have  hitherto 
done.  Messrs.  McEncroe,  Lovat  &  Gregory  are  quite  well, 
and  desire  to  be  recalled  to  your  remembrance.  Believe  me 
to  be 

My  dear  Sir, 

Very  affiy, 
Your  ever  faithful  friend  and  Servt. 

►J<  J.    B.    POLDIXG. 


APPENDIX    A  335 

34.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  of  Van 
Diemen's  Land  (Draft)* 

[Versions  are  found  at  both  Manly  and  Loyola;  the  introduction  is 
missing  from  both.  The  Manly  version,  which  is  the  longer,  is  printed 
here.  There  is  nothing  to  show  which  is  the  later.  "Mr.  Spode"  must 
have  been  Josiah  Spode,  Principal  Superintendent  of  the  Convict 
Department  in  Van  Diemen's  Land.] 

Here,  Sir,  you  will  permit  me  to  ask  why  Mr.  Spode  has 
not  through  you  submitted  to  His  Excellency  a  copy  of  that 
deposition  ?  And  I  beg  also  to  ask  why  that  Gentleman  has  not 
submitted  a  copy  of  my  own  deposition  sworn  to  in  the  same 
case  in  presence  of  that  independent  and  truly  impartial 
Magistrate  J.  Price  Esqr.  Both  depositions  are  intimately 
connected  with  the  case  and  yet  neither  is  amongst  the  copies 
of  all  the  papers  relative  to  it  which  you  have  done  me  the 
honor  to  transmit  to  me.  Mr.  Spode  is  in  my  opinion,  which 
of  course  may  be  erroneous  (hiatus  in  M.S.)  that  those  deposi- 
tions are  alone  sufficient  completely  to  neutralise  the  intended 
effect  of  the  Prisoner  Jackson's  information.  But  were  the 
course  pursued  by  me  in  this  transaction  really  as  bad  as  Mr. 
Spode  has  represented  it  in  his  elaborate  highly  colored  and 
greatly  exaggerated  report  it  would  not  justify  an  illegal 
proscription  of  Religious  rights  with  reference  to  any  por- 
tion however  humble  and  degraded  of  Her  Majesty's  sub- 
jects. Although  as  a  Clergyman  I  cannot  become  what  is 
termed  an  informer  (an  office  which  would  occupy  the  whole 
of  my  time),  I  say  and  do  as  much  to  prevent  the  subversion 
of  discipline  and  the  frustration  of  the  ends  of  Justice  as  Mr. 
Spode  himself.  I  am  not  so  unjust  as  to  attach  blame  to  that 
Gentleman  for  his  praiseworthy  anxiety  to  establish  strict 
discipline  in  every  branch  of  his  Department  without  which 
each  of  them  would  soon  become  an  insufferable  nuisance 
instead  of  a  benefit  to  the  Colony  but  I  do  blame  him  for  in- 
terfering in  my  opinion  improperly  with  the  discipline  of 
the  Catholic  Church  in  some  of  those  Establishments.  In  the 
factory,  Catholic  women  have  been  frequently  compelled  to 
attend  Protestant  service;  and  only  a  few  days  since  I 
learned  from  Catholic  women  in  the  Government  Nursery, 
who  had  been  just  brought  there  from  the  ship  by  which  they 
had  been  transported  to  the  Colony  that  their  grown  Children 
had  been  taken  from  them  by  Mr.  Spode's  authority,  and 
having  enquired  I  also  learned  that  by  the  same  authority 
they  had  been  sent  to  an  exclusively  Protestant  Orphan 
School  where  their  holy  Religion  is  not  only  discountenanced 


336  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

and  disallowed  but  misrepresented  and  derided.  I  have  seen 
these  women  weep  for  the  fate  of  these  Children  and  heard 
them  declare  that  they  would  rather  see  them  dead;  and  I 
know  that  the  tears  of  an  afflicted  and  widowed  Mother 
however  humble  and  abject  have  a  voice  which  will  ascend 
to  Heaven  and  be  heard  with  complacency  by  that  Mighty 
Sovereign  who  is  the  Parent  and  Protector  of  the  Father- 
less and  the  Widow  and  to  whom  alone  it  is  possible  to  pay 
as  much  attention  to  the  appeal  of  the  lowliest  of  His  Crea- 
tures as  to  the  report  of  the  Highest  of  His  Ministers. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  Sir 

Your  most  obt.  humb.  Sert., 

John  Joseph  Therry  V.G. 

35.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  of  Van 
Diemen's  Land  (Draft). 

[The  letter  is  not  fully  dated,  but  belongs  to  the  forties.] 

Harrington   St. 
31st 
Sir, 

Several  complaints  having  recently  reached  me  from 
different  quarters  that  prisoners  professing  the  R.C.  religion 
are  required  by  their  respective  superintendents  to  attend  the 
religious  services  of  the  Church  of  England,  it  is  my  duty 
respectfully  to  solicit  his  Excellency  the  Lieutenant  Governor 
on  account  of  that  liberty  of  conscience  for  all  her  Majesty's 
R.C.  subjects  in  this  Colony — to  which  the  regulations  of  the 
present  Government  as  well  as  the  laws  of  Great  Britain  so 
justly  confirm  their  claim — Compulsion  of  this  sort,  I  beg 
leave  to  state  with  a  confidence  founded  on  my  experience  of 
2.J  years  as  a  Clergyman,  generally  produces  an  effect  very 
different  from  that  expected  by  those  who  resort  to  it  as  a 
means  of  promoting  morality. 

36.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan. 

Hobart  town  14  Septr.   1838. 
My  dear  Sir, 

*Wax  lights  have  this  moment  been  introduced 
which  enable  me  to  state  that  I  have  had  the  satisfaction  to 
perceive  by  one  of  your  esteemed  favors  that  you  can  when 
your  temper  is  unruffled  excuse  my  reluctance  to  write,  when 

*Very  important. 


APPENDIX   A  337 

I  have  nothing  agreeable  to  communicate,  to  my  dear  friends. 
I  have  had  great  difficulties  to  contend  with  since  my  arrival, 
but  I  have  not,  thank  Heaven,  sunk  under  them ;  my  prospects 
are  not  gloomy.  I  have  not  as  yet  received  any  support  direct 
or  indirect  from  the  Government,  &  I  have  thought  it  better 
(under  existing  circumstances  which  I  do  not  like  to  explain 
in  writing)  not  to  apply  to  the  People  for  any.  I  consider  it  a 
great  blessing,  stranger  as  I  am,  that  I  can  obtain  credit  to  any 
amount,  altho'  my  funds  in  the  aggregate  do  not  exceed  in 
value  one  Spanish  dollar.  I  do  think  that  the  expediency,  if  not 
necessity,  of  applying  to  His  Excellency  Sir  George  Gipps  in 
Council  for  my  back  Salary,  as  a  just  and  equitable  debt,  ought 
to  be  most  respectfully,  but  earnestly,  pressed  on  the  attention 
of  our  Bishop.  I  shall  leave  the  arrangement  of  the  matter  ex- 
clusively to  yourself;  but  if  consent  be  obtained  that  I  shall  be 
heard  by  Counsel,  I  should  like  that  Mr.  Com1".  Therry  and 
Mr.  Windeyer  be  engaged  for  me.  It  would  be  well  I  think, 
if  the  matter  could  be  arranged  whilst  I  am  here.  Give  my 
affectionate  &  best  compts.  to  my  dear,  very  dear  friends 
Bridget  and  her  Mother  &  do  enquire  of  the  latter  whether 
she  is  in  want  of  funds  to  pay  the  Widow  Bryan  or  for  any 
other  purpose  &  if  so,  contrive  to  supply  her. 

Ever  most  sincerely  yours, 

John  Joseph  Therry. 
P.S.   I  am  now  applying  Caustic  to  the  Ulcer  on  my  chest. 

37.       FURANUAHA    COFFEE    TO    FATHER    THERRY. 

Melbourne   Novem.   12th   1838 
Revd.  vStr, 

I  take  the  libaurty  of  wrighting  these  few 
lines  to  you  concerning  our  Roman  Catholick  population. 
Which  gives  me  pleasure  to  see  and  heare  that  there  is  about 
500  Roman  Catholiks  in  and  about  Melbourne  I  Maid  every 
inquiry  and  I  wen  to  see  if  thire  was  a  burying  groun  I  see  two 
Burying  grounds  one  belonging  to  the  english  and  the  other  to 
the  Scotch  but  none  for  the  romen  catholick  the  people  Heare 
are  Very  uneasy  in  not  having  a  cleargy  to  forward  them  in 
geting  their  rites  as  well  as  other  sects  it  is  grevous  to  see  these 
Swadlors  comming  pray  over  a  pore  Roman  Catholick  when 
they  go  to  be  intered  in  their  Burying  ground  if  your  reverence 
Wire  theare  to  see  the  Number  of  Romen  Catholiks  that 
asembled  at  a  place  Where  it  was  reported  that  Mr.  Watkins 
would  Silabrate  mass  you  would  be  Surprised  but  to  their  Sur- 


338  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

prise  there  was  no  such  thing  they  could  not  make  out  What 
was  the  Reason  untill  we  came  out  there  is  some  Roman  Catho- 
liks  Staggering  in  their  faith  at  presand  I  know  some  of  their 
children  going  at  presant  to  other  places  of  Worship  in  Spite 
of  their  parrents  the  other  Sects  are  endevering  to  draw  in  as 
many  as  they  can  I  was  talking  to  a  roman  catholike  man  that 
is  lately  maried  in  this  place  he  told  me  when  he  went  to  Par- 
son to  get  maried  the  Parson  told  him  were  it  not  that  he  was 
compeled  he  would  not  mary  him  because  him  and  his  wife  are 
Roman  Catholiks  I  can  say  no  more  at  Present. 

I  remain  your 
Very  Humble  Servant 

FuRANUAHA   COFFEE. 

Please  to  remember  me  to  my  Wife  and  Child  and  tell  her 
that  I  sent  3  pounds  to  By  the  Capt.  of  the  Blossom  and  please 
to  tell  her  to  get  ready  to  come  heare  By  the  Blossom  on  her 
Returne  with  assistance  of  god. 

Anything  particular  you  may  want  to  know  please  to  give 
me  notice  and  I  will  exert  my  to  give  you  every  saticefaction. 

38.     Messrs.  J.  Butler  &  Son  to  Father  Therry. 
[Though  the  letter  is  dated  "1839"  it  is  postmarked  "31  Jan.  1840."] 

Hobart  Town, 

27  Jany  1839. 
Revd.  Sir, 

We  have  received  the  memorandum  of  Agree- 
ment between  Mr.  Parsons  &  Yourself  for  the  Purchase  of  the 
House  in  Harrington  Street  in  which  is  a  Proviso  that  you 
should  be  at  liberty  to  pay  the  Amount  to  be  secured  at  any 
period  during  the  3  Years — Mr.  Parsons  having  to  raise  the 
£ 300  in  Order  to  clear  the  Incumbrances  which  are  now  over 
the  Property  finds  great  difficulty  in  doing  so  on  Account  of 
the  above  mentioned  Proviso.  Will  it  be  convenient  for  you 
to  abandon  that  proviso  and  allow  the  £300  to  remain  on  the 
Property  for  3  Years  certain.  Your  early  answer  will  greatly 
oblige  Your  obt.  Servts. 

J.  Butler  &  Son. 

39.     Bishop  Polding  to  John  O'Sullivan* 

Sydney   October    16th    1839. 
My  dear  Mr.  O'Sullivan, 

Your  kind  favor  of  the  7th  inst.  was  handed  to 
me  when  on  the  point  of  starting  for  the  Lower  Branch  of  the 


APPENDIX    A  339 

Hawksbury  on  a  Missionary  Excursion  whence  I  returned 
sufficiently  fatigued  on  Saturday.  For  it  and  its  enclosed  ac- 
cept my  cordial  thanks.  My  congratulations  also  are  most 
sincerely  offered  on  your  happy  marriage — happy  I  trust  in 
every  sense — except  that  it  deprives  Sydney  of  one  who  was 
ever  active  in  doing  good,  and  whose  labors  in  instructing  those 
who  stand  so  much  in  need  of  instruction  cannot  readily  find  a 
successor  equally  willing  and  competent  to  continue  them.  My 
consolation  is  that  the  Catholics  of  Goulburn  will  profit  by  our 
loss. 

The  destitute  state  of  the  Hospitals  at  Goulburn  and  Bath- 
urst  are  to  me  a  cause  of  unceasing  anxiety.  This  is  not  dimin- 
ished by  the  difficulty  experienced  in  procuring  exemplary 
Priests  to  join  us  in  this  distant  and  arduous  Mission.  One  is 
on  the  water — Mr.  Lovatt  in  the  Hindoo.  I  did  expect  a  second 
with  him — a  Mr.  Bourke — but  it  appears  that  he  was  under 
an  engagement  to  accompany  Dr.  Griffiths  to  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  which  engagement  the  latter  called  upon  him  to 
fulfil  tho  I  confess  I  do  not  see  with  what  propriety.  Dr. 
Griffiths  had  been  nominated  to  be  Bishop  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  Lord  Glenelg  demurred  to  the  appointment  of  a  Catho- 
lic Bishop  at  the  Cape,  in  consequence  Dr.  Griffiths  resigned 
the  appointment ;  since,  however,  Lord  Glenelg  has  withdrawn 
his  opposition  and  Dr.  Griffiths  was  to  prepare  for  Consecra- 
tion and  Mr.  Bourke  to  accompany  him.  There  is  much  in  this 
I  do  not  approve.  I  dislike  most  cordially  such  interference  as 
seems  to  have  been  permitted  to  Lord  G.  When  Mr.  Ulla- 
thorne  returns  from  Rome,  I  anticipate  a  good  result  from  his 
visit  to  Ireland.  Still  Months  must  elapse  before  we  can  re- 
ceive the  long  prayed  for  assistance. 

You  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  the  disedifying  dispute 
at  Hobart  Town  has  terminated  in  the  decision  of  the  Court 
of  Claims  that  Mr.  Conolly  has  failed  in  making  out  his  title 
to  the  Church  property.  The  pleasure  I  have  in  this  informa- 
tion is  much  embittered  by  the  desire  expressed  by  Mr.  Wat- 
kins  to  relinquish  his  present  situation.  The  Congregation  at 
Hobart  Town  presents  probably  the  slightest  attraction  of  an 
earthly  kind  of  a  Clergyman.  He  has  to  cultivate  a  long  ne- 
glected, ungrateful  soil ;  yet  will  not  he  withhold  his  aid,  who 
has  assigned  to  him  that  portion  of  the  Vineyard.  The  death  of 
poor  Mr.  Corcoran  has  opened  a  wide  vacuum  in  the  Mission. 
The  part  I  visited  last  week  was  in  his  district.  Everywhere  I 
find  the  same  grief — the  same  lamentations — with  some  de- 


340  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

fects  there  was  much  sterling  good  in  his  character.  I  always 
apprehended  his  thoughtlessness  respecting  money  matters 
would  bring  him  into  difficulties.  He  had  large  means  at  his 
command,  and  his  expenditure  was  large.  He  has  left  suffi- 
cient to  answer  all  his  debts  at  least  I  am  assured  so.  Your 
little  account  shall  not  be  forgotten.  My  visit  was  in  some  sort 
providential.  I  was  called  so  soon  as  I  arrived  at  Roger 
Sheehan's — the  proposed  term  of  my  journey — many  miles  fur- 
ther to  see  a  poor  woman  90  years  of  age  who  had  not  been  to 
her  duty  for  forty  years — also  a  man  who  a  fortnight  before 
had  been  struck  wth  lightning.  I  found  many  evils  to  correct — 
instead  of  two  days  I  ought  to  have  staid  two  weeks.  Most 
happy  shall  I  be  when  enabled  to  visit  every  part  of  my  ex- 
tensive diocese.  I  beg  my  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  O'Sullivan, 
and  that  you  will  join  in  prayer  with  me  on  Friday  next,  when 
I  shall  celebrate  Mass  to  invoke  the  divine  blessing  upon  your 
union.    Believe  me  to  be  always, 

My  dear  Sir, 
with  sincere  affection, 

Most  truly  Yours  in  J.C., 

^  J.  B.  POLDING. 

40.    Bishop  Polding  to  Father  Therry. 

Sydney  Dec.  6th   1839. 

My  dear  Vicar  General, 

Your  very  welcome  communication  of  the  21st 
ult.  I  received  yesterday,  with  its  contained  cheque  in  my  favour 
for  £500,  to  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  Portico  and  Tower  at 
the  Cathedral.  Many  thanks  for  this  very  handsome  contribu- 
tion towards  an  object  I  have  much  at  heart.  Would  that  soon 
it  might  be  followed  by  many  other  similar  amounts  for  the 
same  purpose.  I  am  considerably  in  debt  for  St.  Marys,  not 
much  less  than  £1000,  having  been  previously  disappointed  by 
the  rejection  of  our  petition  for  a  donation  of  £500.  This  has 
thrown  me  back,  having  also  the  Organ,  which  will  cost 
another  £1000  to  provide  for.  It  would  be  a  great  accommo- 
dation to  me  to  apply  this  Money  to  the  liquidation  of  this 
debt  on  the  Condition  of  devoting  to  the  object  for  which  it  is 
intended  a  similar  amount.  When  you  next  write,  tell  me  if 
this  may  be  done. 

The  Tabernacle  I  have  not  yet  seen.  It  is  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  Vessel,  and  Mr.  Egan  is  particularly  desirous  to  have 
it  removed  with  due  care.   A  trusty  mechanic  will  superintend 


APPENDIX   A  341 

its  landing,  so  we  may  hope  it  will  reach  its  destination  un- 
damaged. The  plan  of  the  Altar  is  not  yet  finished.  We  could 
not  proceed  in  the  absence  of  the  Tabernacle. 

Since  writing  the  above  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  the 
cases  two  in  number  are  safely  deposited  in  St.  Mary's.  They 
are  not  yet  opened. 

Dr.  Ullathorne's  health  has  been  so  delicate  that  it  has  been 
deemed  advisable  for  him  to  return  home.  The  loss  is  keenly 
felt  by  me :  however,  the  interests  of  the  missions  at  large  will 
be  greatly  promoted  by  his  representations  and  influence.  Six 
Priests  from  Maynooth  are  coming  out.  I  am  in  daily  expecta- 
tion of  hearing  that  they  have  embarked.  Do  not  omit  to 
make  application  to  the  Legislative  Council  for  two  or  three 
Priests  more.  Not  only  another  ought  to  be  in  Hobart  Town 
to  assist,  but  two  stationed  in  Launceston  and  two  others  in 

the  interior [A  much  mutilated  sentence  at  this  point 

deals  zvith  arrangements  concerning  the  priests'  passage- 
money.] 

I  propose  visiting  V.  D.  Land  as  soon  as  I  can  arrange 
affairs  here  for  that  purpose.  Then  I  could  influence  Miss 
Conolly  to  withdraw  her  opposition.  Mention  when  you  write 
next  if  my  presence  and  assistance  would  be  of  advantage  now 
or  later. 

I  propose  to  commence  a  new  church  in  Sydney  on  the  site 
between  Clarence  Street  and  Princes  Street.  The  site  is  magni- 
ficent. On  the  8th  I  lay  the  foundation  stone  of  the  Church 
at  Penrith;  on  the  Sunday  after  in  the  Currijong.  The 
churches  at  Goulburn,  Yass  and  Bathurst  will  be  commenced 
forthwith.  The  Sisters  of  Charity  are  now  divided  into  two 
convents — one  at  Parramatta,  another  at  Sydney.  The  latter 
is  for  the  present  at  Waverley  Crescent  near  the  Orphan  In- 
stitution, awaiting  till  the  house  can  be  prepared  for  them.  .  .  . 

Believe  me  to  be 

my  dear  Vicar  General 
very  affectionately 

^  J.  B.  POLDING. 

41.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan* 

Hobart  Town  30th  January   1841. 
My  dear  Sir, 

Having  this  moment  learned  that  a  Ship  is  to 
leave  this  for  Sydney  to-morrow  I  venture,  but  not  without 
fear  that  by  so  doing  I  may  be  improperly  postponing  a  sick 


342  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

call  at  the  Hospital,  to  say  that  on  yesterday  I  was  obliged  to 
draw  on  the  Commercial  Bank  for  fifty  pounds  &  fearing 
also  that  there  are  no  funds  to  pay  that  amount,  you  as  my 
sincere  friend  must  have  been  alarmed  on  learning  from  me 
that  my  expenses  were  when  you  last  heard  from  me  double 
the  amount  of  my  income  and  not  without  sufficient  reason ; 
they  are  not  however  as  you  appear  to  apprehend  those  of 
thoughtless  extravagance.  My  usual  fare  is  not  better  nor  my 
comforts  greater  than  when  you  and  I  resided  in  the  same 
house.  I  neither  give  nor  accept  of  invitations;  I  require  two 
horses  and  keep  but  one :  I  have  only  one  assigned  and  no  free 
servant.  I  have  not  time  to  say  one  word  more  at  present. 
Ever  my  dear  Sir  with  affecte.  compts.  to  Mrs.  O'S. 

Sincerely  yours, 
John  Joseph  Therry. 

42.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  of  Van 
Diemen's  Land  (Draft)* 

c;IR  Harrington  Street  18th  February  1841. 

Feeling  confident  that  I  am  sufficiently  guaranteed  by 
the  well  known  humanity  of  Sir  John  Franklin  against  the 
danger  of  incurring  His  Excellency's  displeasure  by  submit- 
ting the  third  time  for  favorable  consideration  the  case  of  the 
unhappy  man  sentenced  to  be  executed  to-morrow  I  have  less 
hesitation  than  I  otherwise  should  have  in  respectfully  stating 
that  his  Honor  the  Chief  Justice  having  had  the  kindness  to 
say  to  me  this  evening  that  could  he  entertain  a  reasonable 
doubt  of  the  Prisoner  having  been  armed  for  the  purpose  of 
Robbery  during  his  unlawful  absence  from  Government  ser- 
vice he  would  conceive  it  to  be  his  duty  instantly  to  wait  on 
the  Lieutenant  Governor  to  recommend  that  the  unhappy  cul- 
prit should  be  respited,  I  consider  it  to  be  my  duty  solemnly 
to  declare  that  after  a  careful  and  diligent  examination  of  the 
acknowledged  accomplice  of  the  Prisoner  &  of  the  Prisoner 
himself  in  presence  of  respectable  witnesses  I  have  what  ap- 
pears to  me  sufficient  reason  to  be  convinced  that,  although  the 
Jury  was  perfectly  justified  by  the  evidence  at  the  trial  in  find- 
ing the  two  prisoners  Guilty  and  the  Chief  Justice  of  course 
in  pronouncing  in  accordance  with  a  local  act  the  sentence 
of  Death  against  the  Prisoner,  were  his  Honor  and  the  Jury 
acquainted  with  the  real  character  and  circumstances  of  the 
convict  Prosecutors  the  Prisoners  would  not  have  been  capitally 
convicted. 


APPENDIX    A  343 

43.     Roger  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan  (with  enclosure)* 

Sydney  November  21/42. 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  write  to  apprize  you  that  a  will  has  been  trans- 
mitted to  me  made  by  a  person  named  Florence  Mahony  of 
Yass.  He  bequeaths  his  property,  (which  the  will  alleges  to 
consist  of  4  mares  with  their  foals  by  their  side — £67  in  cash 
in  the  hands  of  Campbell  of  the  wharf — and  some  bills  due 
to  him  by  Mr.  James  Manning,)  to  me  in  trust  for  the  Revd. 
Mr.  Therry.  Now  as  you  represent  Mr.  Therry's  interests 
here — it  appears  to  me  that  the  better  course  for  you  to  take 
is  to  administer — and  I  will  renounce.  If  you  are  willing  to  do 
so  you  had  better  write  to  Mr.  C.  Chambers  on  the  subject  to 
whom  I  have  handed  over  the  will  together  with  the  papers 
found  on  the  person  of  Mahony  who  died  on  his  way  from 
Yass  to  Sydney.  I  will  write  to  the  Revd.  Mr.  Therry  and 
will  apprize  him  that  I  have  written  to  you  on  the  subject.  It 
would  be  well  however  to  ascertain  before  any  expence  were 
incurred  whether  the  man  really  died  possessed  of  the  property 
stated  in  the  will. 

I  am  my  Dear  Sir, 

Yours  very  faithfully 

R.  Therry. 
P.S.    Since  the  within  was  written  I  thought  it  better  to 
send  you  a  copy  of  the  will.  R.T. 

[Enclosure] 

In  the  name  of  God  Amen. 

I  Florence  Mahoney  lata  of  Yass  in  the  County  of  King  being 
sick  of  body  but  sound  of  mind  do  make  this  my  last  Will 
and  Testament.  I  leave  and  bequeath  unto  Roger  Therry  Esq 
Attorney-General  four  mares  with  three  fillies  and  one  colt 
running  by  their  sides  to  be  given  to  the  very  Revd.  J.  J. 
Therry,  Hobarton,  for  his  use  and  benefit.  Three  of  them  are 
running  at  the  Wollombim  at  Daniel  Sweeney's  with  their 
foals,  the  other  at  William  Bennett's,  Field  of  Mars,  Kissing 
Point. 

I  also  leave  and  bequeath  to  the  said  Roger  Therry  Esq  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  said  Very  Revd.  J.  J.  Therry,  the 
sum  of  sixty  seven  pounds  stg.  lodged  to  my  credit  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Robert  Campbell  Georges  Street  Sydney.  Also 
one  Bill  for  the  sum  of  Twenty  one  pounds  Stg.  wages  due  to 
me  by  Mr.  James  Manning  of  Cambramarra. 


21 


344  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Also  one  Bill  for  a  balance  of  Two  pounds  fifteen  shillings 
due  to  me  by  the  said  Mr.  James  Manning  being  balance  of 
wages  for  watching  sheep. 

I  also  leave  and  bequeath  to  my  friend  John  Sheehan  the 
sum  of  Twenty  pounds  Stg.  in  case  that  I  should  die  before  I 
reach  Sydney  And  if  I  arrive  safe  in  Sydney  I  bequeath  him 
the  sum  of  Ten  pounds  Stg.  for  his  trouble  and  attention  to 
me. —  Dated  At  Berrima  this  fourteenth  day  of  November  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty- 
two. 

(signed) 
Witness  his 

James  Green  Florence  X   Mahoney. 

Thomas  Jones  •  mark 

44.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  of  Van 
Diemen's  Land  (Copy). 

Harrington  Street  24  June  1843. 

Sir, 

Permit  me  to  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  the  favorable 
consideration  of  His  Excellency  the  Lieutenant  Governor  on 
behalf  of  the  Committee  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  present  Church  subscriptions  now  in  course 
of  publication  is  intended  and  reserved  by  the  subscribers  for 
the  erection  of  a  Church  in  the  North  Western  Division  of 
Hobart  Town ;  that  the  other  portion  in  consequence  of  the 
great  depression  of  the  times,  is  coming  in  too  slowly  to  enable 
us  to  pay  even  the  current  weekly  expenses  of  our  Ecclesias- 
tical Buildings;  that  our  Church  fund  at  the  Lmion  Bank  (the 
only  place  where  it  is  lodged)  is  now  nearly  if  not  altogether 
exhausted  although  I  have  paid  eighty  six  Pounds  by  a  draft 
on  Sydney  through  that  Bank  towards  its  support  within  the 
present  Month  that  my  acceptances  on  the  Church  Account  in 
the  same  Establishment  amount  to  about  six  hundred  Pounds 
that  I  have  no  provision  whatever  in  hand  to  enable  me  to 
retire  them  and  that  I  am  now  called  on  (as  you  may  perceive 
by  the  accompanying  papers)  by  the  Solicitors  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  late  Proprietor  of  the  Land  on  which  St. 
Joseph's  Church  School  House  &  Minister's  Dwelling  have 
been  erected  for  the  unpaid  purchase  money  amounting  with 
the  interest  to  six  hundred  and  ninety  nine  pounds,  eleven  shil- 
lings. Under  which  circumstances  I  feel  convinced  that  His 
Excellency  will  be  desirous  to  relieve  me  from  an  embarras- 


APPENDIX    A  345 

ment  in  which  I  have  been  involved  by  an  unavoidable  &  in- 
vincible anxiety  to  promote  the  interest  of  Religion  and  Moral- 
ity within  the  narrow  sphere  of  my  influence.  But  as  His 
Excellency  may  not  immediately  see  any  ground  on  which  I 
might  rest  a  fair  claim  on  the  Government  for  any  assistance 
beyond  the  sum  of  fifteen  hundred  Pounds  which  was  ordered 
by  the  Rt.  Honorable  the  Secretary  of  State  in  1835,  and  voted 
by  the  Legislative  Council  in  1836  for  the  erection  of  a  R.C. 
Church  and  School  but  which  was  not  received  by  me  until 
the  24  October  1842  when  our  debts  amounted  to  more  than 
that  sum ;  I  beg  most  respectfully  to  state  that  the  Catholic 
Community  of  Hobart  Town  (who  have  not  as  yet  derived  the 
slightest  advantage  from  the  Church  Extension  Act,  which  was 
expected  to  operate  greatly  in  their  favor)  have  in  my  opinion 
an  equitable  claim  on  the  Government  for  the  interest  of  that 
sum  from  the  time  it  was  voted  by  the  Council  to  that  when 
it  was  received  by  me.  Another  equitable  ground  of  claim  is 
furnished  them  by  the  circumstance  of  His  Excellency  having 
been  prevented  from  giving  in  compliance  with  my  request, 
free  of  cost,  a  Portion  of  the  Government  Land  in  Macquarie 
&  Barrack  Streets  as  a  site  for  St.  Joseph's  Church  in  con- 
sequence of  that  Land  being  at  that  time  reserved  for  the 
contemplated  College  and  (passing  by  the  consideration  of  a 
great  portion  of  our  Church  sometimes  one  hundred  and  fifty 
sittings  being  occupied  every  Sunday  by  the  Military  and 
Prisoners  of  the  Crown)  the  erection  of  a  Minister's  Dwelling 
in  connection  with  St.  Joseph's  Church  appears  to  me  to  es- 
tablish both  an  equitable  and  a  strictly  legal  claim  on  the  Gov- 
ernment for  a  sum  of  three  hundred  pounds.  Should  His  Ex- 
cellency, however,  still  think  that  he  is  not  authorised  to  grant 
the  relief  that  I  have  now  the  honor  to  solicit  I  beg  leave  most 
respectfully  to  request  that  His  Excellency  may  be  pleased  to 
forward  with  a  favorable  recommendation  this  application  to 
my  Lord  Stanley  and  at  present  to  direct  that  one  thousand 
Pounds  (or  any  lesser  sum,  should  this  appear  too  much)  be 
issued  from  the  Colonial  Treasury  to  the  Church  Trustees  as 
a  loan,  on  their  personal  security,  for  one  or  two  years. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 
Sir 
Your  most  obedient  servant 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

P.S.    Having  directed  my   Superintendant  to  prepare  an 
exact  account  of  our  Church  Cash  expenditure  from  the  time 


346  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

at  which  we  received  pecuniary  assistance  from  the  Govern- 
ment, I  find  it  amounts  to  (£2206- 12-8 J)  two  thousand  two 
hundred  and  six  pounds  twelve  shillings  and  eigt  pence  J. 

45.     Lawrence  Cavanagh  to  Father  Therry* 

Norfolk  Island 

Septr  4th  44/ — 

Rev.  Father, 

I  again  embrace  the  opportunity  of  writing,  hav- 
ing on  this  occasion  more  time  as  regards  the  detention  of  the 
Government  vessels  than  when  I  had  the  late  honor  of  ad- 
dressing you:  aware  of  many  omissions  I  would  now  beg  to 
submit  for  your  consideration  a  few  ideas  suggested  to  my 
mind  since  my  arrival. 

I  shall  premise  these  remarks  by  assuring  you  Rev.  Father, 
that  excepting  three  cases  of  very  trifling  delinquency  none  of 
the  sixty-nine  who  arrived  with  me  have  been  tried  for  any 
offence  whatever  and  I  do  believe  that  any  irregularities  have 
not  been  committed :  although  constituted  as  prisoners  are  it 
not  infrequently  happens  that  they  (who  have  from  a  vicious 
principle  reduced  the  commission  of  crime  to  an  actual  system) 
evade  detention  through  means  both  treacherous  and  incred- 
ible and  I  therefore  hold  it  difficult  to  estimate  fairly  a  mans 
private  character  as  a  prisoner  by  the  aggregate  entries  in  his 
police  report. 

The  present  system  of  discipline  at  Norfolk  Island,  from 
irremediable  causes  at  least  at  present  is  certainly  defective  in 
as  much  as  a  proper  classification,  the  great  desideratum  in 
amendatory  systems,  is  impracticable. 

Men  a  second  and  third  time  convicted  are  necessarily  as- 
sociated with  those  who  have  been  recently  transported  from 
England ;  and  it  is  but  just  to  infer  that  the  latter  are  not  so 
vitiated  and  depraved  as  those  who  I  have  first  enumerated. 
Again  the  discipline  exacted  from  the  one  is  precisely  similar 
to  that  required  from  the  other  and  this  circumstance  naturally 
engenders  a  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  last 
comers,  or  "new  hands". 

Still  while  Norfolk  Island  remains  a  depot  for  old  offend- 
ers as  well  as  those  transported  direct  from  England,  the  pre- 
sent system  cannot  be  improved  at  least  in  the  more  important 
points. 

May  I  beg  Rev.  Father,  that  you  will  if  perfectly  conven- 
ient to  yourself  confer  with  Capt.  Forster  on  the  subject  of 


APPENDIX    A  347 

our  (V.D.L.  draught)  detention  on  Norfolk  Island:  suspense 
is  more  intolarable  than  the  knowledge  of  our  respective 
periods  of  servitude,  however  hopeless  and  this  feeling  ob- 
trudes more  forcibly  on  our  minds  from  the  circumstance, 
that  the  English  Prisoners  shortly  after  their  arrival  are  made 
acquainted  with  their  several  probationary  sentences. 

Permit  me  further  to  trespass  on  your  goodness  by  request- 
ing the  favour  of  your  returning  my  sincere  and  heartfelt 
thanks  to  Capt.  Murray  whose  disinterested  and  very  gentle- 
manly conduct  towards  me  I  can  never  forget  and  assure  him 
that  nothing  will  afford  me  greater  pleasure  than  confer  with 
him  through  the  medium  of  writing  on  any  subject  connected 
with  the  bettering  the  condition  of  my  unfortunate  brethren. 
I  am  emboldened  to  make  this  proposition  by  the  interest  that 
gentleman  has  invariably  taken  in  anything  that  tended  to  the 
reform  of  prison  discipline  abuse,  or  the  reformation  of  the 
prisoners  themselves,  and  as  the  first  steps  in  attaining  such 
an  end  must  necessarily  be  the  dissemination  of  facts  and  local 
memoranda,  I  trust  that  my  humble  efforts  may  not  prove  un- 
acceptable: notwithstanding  Rev.  Father,  I  would  beg  to  be 
guided  solely  by  your  advice  and  promise  faithfully  to  follow 
implicitly  your  directions. 

The  Gentleman  to  whose  benevolence  I  am  indebted  in  for- 
warding this  letter  [to  you]  will  further  extend  his  kindness 
by  receiving  [under]  cover  to  him  any  communication,  should 
you  [kindly]  deem  me  worthy  of  such  indulgence;  and  [while] 
trusting  that  I  have  not  overstepped  the  bounds  of  duty  or 
discretion  in  addressing  [you  I]  would  beg  with  the  greatest 
respect  to  remain  Revd   Father 

Rev.  J.  J.  Therry  your  most  obedient  and 

Vicar  General  Very  humble  servant 

Hobart  Lawrence  Cavanagh 

46.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan* 

[This  and  the  five  following  documents  will  give  the  reader  some  idea 
of  the  monetary  troubles  in  which  Father  Therry  was  involved  by  his 
dispute  with  Bishop  Willson.] 

Hobart  Town,  30th  August  1845. 
My  dear  Sir, 

If  you  can  by  sending  my  deeds  to  Mr.  Dally 
enable  him  to  borrow  for  me  about  three  hundred  pounds  at 
8  per  cent.,  without  much  delay,  I  may  perhaps  be  saved  from 
imprisonment  and  sequestration. 

Ever  yours,  John  Joseph  Therry. 


348  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


47.     John  Dobson  to  Jane  Therry,  with  covering  letter. 
[From  copies  in  Father  Therry' s  handwriting.] 

Hobart  Town,   12  May  48. 
Dear  Madam, 

Will  you  have  the  kindness  to  inform  me  if  there 
is  any  chance  of  the  debt  due  by  the  Rev.  J.  Therry  to  the 
Derwent  Bank  being  paid  as  I  have  received  instructions  from 
Captain  Swanston  to  recover  payment  of  the  sum  of  £80  and 
I  am  unwilling  to  issue  a  summons  before  hearing  from  you. 

I  remain  Dear  Madam. 

Yours  Obtly, 

John  Dobson 
Miss  Jane  Therry.  (Solicitor) 

Copy  of  the  letter  that  inclosed  the  above. 

Hobart  Town,  10th  May    1848. 
Very  Revd.  dear  Sir, 

I  called  on  Mr.  Dobson  yesterday  to  beg  of  him 
not  to  take  proceedings  till  I  should  hear  from  you:  he  says 
he  cannot  wait  any  longer,  he  will  take  out  a  foreign  attach- 
ment against  you  but  it  will  be  26  days  before  bailiffs  will 
be  sent  to  the  house  I  fear  this  will  bring  on  you  insolvency 
as  there  are  persons  here  most  anxious  for  it.  Try  to  do  some- 
thing to  keep  yourself  from  beggary.  You  have  no  Friends 
here,  your  Creditors  are  furious  against  you ;  if  five  pounds 
would  buy  in  vour  books  there  is  no  one  to  advance  it. 

KM. 

48.     Austin  Penny  to  Father  Therry* 

Stone  Buildings, 

20th  September  1849. 

Dear  Sir, 

I  am  instructed  by  the  Holder  of  your  overdue 
acceptance  for  £27.  o.  o.  in  favor  of  Mr.  John  Clayton  to 
apply  to  you  for  payment  thereof,  may  I  therefore  request 
your  immediate  attention  to  the  same  as  my  instructions  are 
to  commence  proceedings  unless  the  Bill  is  retired. 

Yours  obedly. 

The  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry,  Austin  Penny. 

Harrington  Street. 


APPENDIX    A  349 

49.     In  re  Elliston  v.  Therry* 

(No.  1.) 
Summons. 

VAN  DIEMEN'S  LAND 


In  the  Court  of  Requests  for  the  Police  District  of  Hobart 

To  the  Reverend  John  Joseph  Therry,  of  Harrington 
Street  Hobart  Town. 

You  are  hereby  summoned  to  appear  in  this  Court,  at  Hobart 
Town,  on  Friday  the  seventh  day  of  December  next,  at  ten 
of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  same  day  precisely,  to 
answer  the  plaint  of  William  Gore  Elliston  of  Glenarchy  .... 

whereby  he   seeks   to   recover   from  you 

Nineteen  Pounds  fifteen  Shillings  and  seven  Pence,  for  prin- 
cipal money  due  upon  a  Bill  of  Exchange 

(the  particulars  whereof  are  filed  with  the  Plaint  in  the  Office 
of  the  Registrar  at  Hobart  Town,  and  a  copy  of  which  particu- 
lars as  filed  is  written  underneath  this  Summons)  ;  otherwise, 
upon  proof  of  the  due  Service  of  a  copy  of  this  Summons,  the 
cause,  when  called  on  for  hearing,  will  be  tried,  and  Judgment 
be  given  against  you  for  whatever  may  appear  to  be  due  to- 
gether with  such  Costs  as  the  Court  may  think  fit  to  award. 
And  take  notice,  that  if  you  have  any  claim  upon  the  Plaintiff, 
full  particulars  thereof  in  writing  must  be  filed  in  the  Office 
of  the  Registrar  as  a  Set-off,  and  of  which  you  must  give 
notice,  also  in  writing,  to  the  Plaintiff  (inserting  in  your 
Notice  a  copy  of  the  Set-off  as  filed)  Two  clear  Days  at  the 
least  before  the  day  herein  named  for  the  hearing  of  the 
cause,  otherwise  the  evidence  you  may  bring  forward  to  sup- 
port such  Set-off  cannot  be  admitted. 

Dated  this  ninth  day  of  November 

One  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-nine 

(Signed)   Joseph  Hone 

Commissioner  of  the  Court 

COPY  PARTICULARS 
This  Action  is  brought  to  recover  the  above  amount  for 
principal  money  due  to  the  above  named  Plaintiff  upon  the 
Bill  of  Exchange  of  which  a  true  copy  is  hereunder  written 
together  with  interest  on  such  amount  to  be  computed  from 
the  day  on  which  the  said  Bill  of  Exchange  became  due. 


350  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

Hobart  Town  2nd  August  1848 
£19.  15.  7 

Three  months  after  date  pay  to  my  Order  the 
sum  of  Nineteen  pounds  fifteen  shillings  and  seven  pence  for 
value  received. 

Wm.  Gore  Elliston 
To  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Therry 
Harrington  Street. 

[Endorsed]  Accepted  payable  at  the  Derwent  Bank 

John   Joseph   Therry 

[Docketed:]     IN  THE  COURT  OF  REQUESTS. 

Elliston  "j  _ 
v        (  Copy 

Therry    )  Summons 

Butler  Nutt  &  Butler 

Hobart  Town, 

Plaintiff's  Attorneys. 

50.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan* 

Hobart  Town   18th  February   1853 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  letter  of 
the  27th  ult°  and  very  much  regret  to  have  to  say  in  reply 
that  I  have  no  expectation  of  being  enabled  to  make  any 
arrangement  that  would  be  satisfactory  to  you  or  to  any  one 
of  my  principal  creditors  until  I  shall  have  been  freed  from 
the  moral  imprisonment  by  which  I  have  been  detained  here 
without  salary  or  income  for  a  long  series  of  years.  I  am  fully 
convinced  that  you  have  suffered  considerable  inconvenience 
by  having  frequently  made  Cash  advances  on  my  account  and 
I  grieve  to  have  to  add  that  some  of  my  other  creditors  have 
on  the  same  account  suffered  much  more  severely.  I  do  not 
know  that  any  one  of  them  has  been  for  a  single  day  without 
means  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life  but  I  do  know  that 
I  have  been  days  weeks  months  and  years  in  this  City  without 
the  command  of  even  sixpence  unless  I  were  to  submit  to  the 
humiliation  of  borrowing  it ;  whilst  I  looked  upon  my  property 
(of  which  false  friends  wished  to  deprive  me)  as  completely 
locked  up,  until  I  should  have  an  opportunity,  which  in  the 
worst  of  times  I  always  hoped  for,  of  satisfying,  without 
giving  to   anyone   an   unjust   preference,   the   whole   of   my 


APPENDIX   A  351 

creditors.  This  opportunity  I  trust  is  now  near  at  hand.  In 
obedience  to  the  command  of  the  Holy  See,  conveyed  to  me 
by  His  Grace  the  Archbishop  I  had  the  honor  to  submit  to  it 
through  His  Eminence  the  Prefect  of  the  Propaganda,  Car- 
dinal Franzoni,  a  statement  of  the  case  in  dispute  between  the 
R*  Revd  Dr.  Willson  and  the  Church  creditors  about  two 
years  since  which  with  the  statements  and  admissions  pre- 
viously made  on  the  same  subject  by  His  Lordship  and  the 
explanations  of  the  Very  Revd.  Doctor  Gregory  must  have 
in  my  opinion  led  long  before  this  to  a  just  decision  by  His 
Holiness  the  Pope.  As  my  prospects  begin  I  thank  Heaven 
to  brighten  I  shall  be  more  happy  than  usual  to  receive  letters 
from  you  and  Mrs.  O'Sullivan  to  give  explanations  on  any 
subject  about  which  you  may  wish  for  any  information  that 
it  may  be  in  my  power  to  give.  With  affectionate  regards  to 
all  your  family  I  am  as  usual 

Ever  sincerely  yours 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

51.     Extract  from  Father  Therry's  Diary,  18  April,  1856. 

Passed  my  bills  to  Mr.  John  Regan  payable  in  one,  two 
and  three  years,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  three  hundred 
pounds,  honestly  and  fairly  in  every  way  due  to  him  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Doctor  Robert  William  Willson,  who  is  not  exon- 
erated in  any  way  by  this  transaction  from  the  full  and  com- 
plete fulfilment  of  the  terms  of  agreement  with  the  Rev.  J.  J. 
Therry,  entered  and  signed  by  his  Lordship  and  by  J.  J.  T. 
on  the  2nd  day  of  July  1846.  Mr.  John  Regan  has  promised 
to  return  these  bills  or  their  amount  to  Rev.  J.  J.  T.  as  soon 
as  their  said  amount  respectively  shall  have  been  received  by 
him  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Willson,  who  has  been  directed  by 
the  Holy  See  to  fulfil  his  agreement  by  paying  the  amount  of 
debt  attached  to  the  property  of  which  he  has  put  himself  in 
possession. 

52.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan* 

Sydney   16th   Sept*   1846. 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  have  just  returned  to  Saint  Mary's  from  a 
visit  to  the  Schooner  Velocity  by  which  I  expect  to  be  con- 
veyed from  this,  on  Friday  next,  on  my  way  to  Melbourne. 
Dr.  G.  being  anxious  to  relieve  the  V.  R.  Mr.  Geoghegan  as 


352  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

soon  as  possible  in  compliance  with  his  urgent  and  frequently 
repeated  request.  I  received  your  letter  of  yesterday  but  could 
not  before  this  moment  send  you  anything  like  a  satisfactory 
reply  to  it  as  it  is  only  just  now  a  determination  has  been 
formed  as  to  the  time  of  my  leaving.  The  V.  R.  Dr.  G.  would 
not  wish  that  I  should  expose  myself  to  the  serious  incon- 
venience of  proceeding  so  soon  to  Melbourne  if,  I  had  not 
agreed  in  opinion  with  him  that,  a  much  more  serious  incon- 
venience might  result  from  any  further  delay  on  my  part.  The 
Doctor  proposes  that  the  Revd.  Mr.  Kavanagh  if  he  cannot 
accompany  shall  soon  follow  me  to  Port  Philip.  I  would  greatly 
prefer  waiting  for  the  'Shamrock'  if  I  could  do  so  without  a 
dereliction  of  duty  or  giving  any  cause  of  uneasiness  to  my 
V.R.  &  amiable  Friend.  As  it  is  nearly  four  o'clock  and 
having  to  take  this  note  to  the  Post  Office  I  must  conclude. 

Ever  faithfully  your's 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

53.     Father  Therry  to  John  O'Sullivan. 

Melbourne   12th   November   1846. 
My  dear  Sir, 

Were  I  to  tell  you  as  an  apology  for  not  im- 
mediately acknowledging  the  receipt  of  your  letters  that  I 
have  not  time  to  do  so,  you  ought  not  believe  me;  but  you 
may  safely  believe  me  when  I  tell  you,  as  I  do  now,  that,  I 
have  not  time  to  perform  the  one  twentieth  part  of  the  im- 
portant duties  that  I  should  wish  to  discharge  on  this  highly 
important  mission.  Here  indeed  the  harvest  would  be  very 
great  had  we  efficient  laborers  to  save  it.  I  sit  down  to  write 
with  sore  eyes  from  want  of  regular  sleep  and  a  dejected  mind 
in  consequence  of  not  having  as  yet  heard  from  my  friends 
in  Van  Diemen's  land  any  thing  but  the  most  disagreeable  and 
alarming  intelligence,  so  that  I  have  serious  reason  to  appre- 
hend that  the  friendship  of  some  of  them  has  been  already 
changed  into  enmity.  I  did  not  wish  to  write  to  you  till  I 
should  be  enabled  to  communicate  to  you  some  agreeable  in- 
telligence from  that  quarter.  I  reed  in  Van  D.  Land  your  order 
for  twenty  pounds,  in  Sydney  your  order  for  fifty  pounds  and 
in  this  place  your  order  for  fifty.  I  do  not  recollect  to  have 
reed  more  than  one  letter  from  you  since  my  arrival  here.  I 
have  not  written  to  Mr.  Bowler  I  consider  it  would  be  better 
that  you  should  write  to  him  direct  on  the  subject  of  your 


APPENDIX    A  353 

complaint  which  appears  to  me  to  be  a  very  just  one:  but  as 
I  cannot  safely  judge  in  my  own  case  I  think  with  you  that 
it  is  better  to  make  some  sacrifice  in  order  to  come  to  an 
amicable  arrangement.  You  need  not  now  fear  to  send  me 
letters  without  franks  or  being  prepaid  as  there  is  abundance 
of  small  coins  always  in  the  hands  of  my  Treasurer  the  Revd 
John  Kavanagh.  You  may,  therefore,  write  me  short  letters 
as  often  as  you  please.  I  should  now  like  also  to  receive  let- 
ters from  Mrs.  Dwyer  and  Mrs.  O.  S.  from  whom  I  have  not 
reed  a  single  line  for  the  last  age.  But  even  from  them  I 
should  not  like  to  receive  very  long  letters:  the  latter  writes 
if  I  remember  rightly  though  not  so  rapidly  a  much  plainer 
hand  than  you  do:  and  on  that  account  a  long  letter  telling 
me  everything  about  her  Mother  Children  (is  the  dear  little 
boy  any  better?)  brothers  and  family  might  be  read  by  me 
without  much  loss  of  time  and  considerable  pleasure.  I  have 
written  but  one  letter,  a  very  very  short  one,  to  my  very  dear 
Friend  Doctor  Gregory  since  my  arrival  here  and  in  that  I 
solicited  leave  to  proceed  for  a  short  time  to  Van  Diemen's 
Land  with  ecclesiastical  authority  to  arrange  with  or  without 
the  concurrence  of  certain  parties  the  temporal  affairs  of  its 
principal  Church.  It  has  now  struck  either  n  or  12  (of  course 
at  night)  and  having  to  write  another  letter  whilst  I  am  in  the 
humour  to  do  so  and  perform  other  duties  before  I  retire  to 
rest  and  have  moreover  to  rise  early  to  attend  the  Confes- 
sional before  I  proceed  to  Geelong  to-morrow  I  must  bid  you 
and  our  very  dear  &  mutual  friends  adieu 

J-  J-  T. 


54.     Appeal  in  aid  of  Father  Therry* 

[Copy  in  Father  Therry's  handwriting.] 

Testimonial  of  Sympathy  to  the  Revd.  J.  J.  Therry. 
The  Committee  appointed  at  the  Public  meeting  held  at 
the  Amphitheatre  on  tuesday  the  12th  March  1850,  beg  leave 
to  call  upon  the  Friends  of  the  above  named  Clergyman  to 
subscribe  to  a  testimonial  of  sympathy,  which  is  intended  to 
relieve  him  from  severe  personal  embarrassments  that  have 
been  brought  on  by  his  detention  in  this  Colony  without  either 
salary  or  income  of  any  sort  for  several  years. 

The  Committee  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  accompany 
the  appeal  by  any  lengthened  statement  as  the  character  of 
the  Revd.  gentleman  both  public  and  private,  has  been  well 


354  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

known  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Australian  Colonies  for  the 
last  thirty  years. 

(Signed)  J.  Moore         Chairman 
(Signed)  D.  Murphy     Secretary 
Committee  Room 

Macquarie  Street  19  March  1850 

55.     Father  Therry  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  of  N.S.W. 

(Copy). 

Hobart  Town,  1st  December,  1853. 
Sir, 

Having  reason  to  apprehend  from  reading,  on  yester- 
day evening,  an  extract  from  a  Sydney  paper,  that  you  may 
leave  before  I  return  to  New  South  Wales,  I  hasten  to  have 
the  honor  to  submit  to  you,  prior  to  your  departure,  two  most 
reasonable  and  just  claims  that  I  have  earnestly  and  most 
respectfully  to  urge  on  the  favorable  but  impartial  conside- 
ration of  the  local  Government,  of  which  you  have  been  for 
so  many  years  the  highly  distinguished  Representative.  One 
on  my  own  account,  the  other  on  behalf  of  the  Archbishop  of 
Sydney  and  of  the  numerous  Flock  of  which  His  Grace  is  the 
viligent  and  indefatigable  Shepherd. 

The  former  is  for  ten  years  Salary  justly  due  to  me,  the 
latter  for  the  fulfilment  of  an  official  promise  made  to  me  in 
favor  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Hyde  Park,  Sydney,  by  the  Gov- 
ernment in  1852. 

For  the  particulars  and  proofs  of  each  claim  I  think  I  may, 
with  great  confidence,  (even  without  consultation  with,  or 
permission  of  any  one  of  them)  respectfully  refer  to  His 
Grace  the  Archbishop,  His  Honor  Mr.  Justice  Therry  and 
Henry  Grattan  Douglas.  Esqr.,  M.L.C.  My  own  claim  I  beg 
permission  to  state  would  be  satisfied  by  a  grant  of  three  sec- 
tions of  the  land  at  Billibong,  that  I  rent  of  the  Government  as 
a  Cattle  Station,  and  I  do  believe  that  the  other  claim  might 
be  satisfied  by  a  grant  to  His  Grace  of  a  moiety  of  the  amount 
of  money  that  may  be  required  to  enlarge  and  complete  that 
Church,  or,  in  other  words,  of  a  sum  eaqual  in  amount  to  the 
sum  total  of  private  subscriptions  for  that  purpose. 

I  have,  &c, 
The  Honorable  John  Joseph  Therry. 

E.  D.  Thomson,  Esqr. 
Colonial  Secretary, 
&c,  &c,  &c. 


APPENDIX    A  355 

56.     Bishop  Polding  to  Father  Therry* 

Dear  Father  Therry, 

I  am  impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  bring  before 
your  mind  the  absolute  incompatibility  of  your  continuing  to 
hold  the  responsible  administration  of  large  properties  with 
the  discharge  of  the  spiritual  obligations  of  the  Missionary. 
I  refer  you  to  the  solemn  admonition  of  St.  Paul,  that  no  man 
being  a  Soldier  to  God  entangleth  himself  in  secular  business; 
to  the  stringent  canons  of  the  Church  on  this  subject — to  the 
evil  and  unhappy  consequences  of  such  entanglements.  I  feel 
that  my  own  salvation  is  imperilled.  Your  regard  for  me  will 
influence  you  to  remove  without  delay  this  cause  of  much  un- 
easiness to  me — which  indeed  has  been  a  rock  of  scandal  and 
I  may  add  has  been  urged  against  me  as  a  matter  of  grave 
reproach. 

I  am  dear  F.  Therry 

St.  Mary's  Yrs  affly  in  J.C. 

Feb.  23/56  ^  J.  B.  Polding  Sydneien. 

57.     Father  McEncroe  to  Father  Therry. 

Sydney  November  20th,  1857. 
Dear  Father  Therry, 

You  will  hear  with  grief  of  the  death  of  our  es- 
teemed friend  Dean  Coffey.  This  is  the  third  priest  we  lost 
since  you  left  Sydney.  Hence  the  necessity  of  your  return- 
ing as  soon  as  you  possibly  can  arrange  your  affairs  in  Hobart 
Town,  as  the  Revd.  Mr.  Garnett's  services  may  be  required 
elsewhere. 

I  had  to  borrow  money  at  interest  to  meet  the  heavy 
demands  on  account  of  the  Freeman's  Journal  otherwise  I 
would  advance  some  money  to  Father  Garnett  on  your  ac- 
count. Mr.  Dalton  told  me  that  he  owed  you  £5  or  £6,  and  that 
he  would  pay  it  to  me,  which  I  will  hand  over  to  Mr.  Garnett 
as  he  is  in  want  of  a  little  cash.  A  £100  a  year  with  board 
and  lodging  is  allowed  to  the  assistant  priests  in  the  Diocese, 
and  I  think  that  you  might  pay  at  that  rate  to  Mr.  Garnett. 
As  your  stipend  is  paid  in  to  one  of  the  banks  for  you,  you 
might  send  him  a  cheque  for  a  small  amount  to  meet  his  im- 
mediate wants.  With  kind  respects  to  your  sister  and  Miss 
Murphy,  and  hoping  to  see  you  soon  in  Sydney,  I  remain 

Revd.  Dear  Sir, 

Yours  faithfully, 

J.  McEncroe. 


356  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

58.     John  Cobb  to  Father  Therry. 

13  Francis  St.  Glebe  Jany.  i8th/59. 
Revd.  Sir, 

After  what  passed  between  us  on  Saturday  the 
15th  inst.  I  can  see  no  course  open  to  me  but  to  give  up  all 
attempts  to  meet  your  wishes. 

It  was  on  the  6th  of  December,  six  weeks  ago  that  I  re- 
cieved  directions  from  you  to  furnish  Plans  and  Specification 
for  a  new  Church  (St.  Anns)  also  to  make  an  estimate  of 
the  cost  exclusive  of  Carpenter's  work.  This  I  did  and  was 
honored  by  your  approval  of  the  same — you  then  desired  me 
to  give  an  estimate  for  the  whole.  This  I  also  did,  and  up  to 
the  7th  of  January  had  supplied  four  different  contracts,  all 
of  which  were  laid  aside — you  then  handed  me  quite  another 
sett  of  drawings  desiring  to  have  my  estimate  of  the  cost 
according  to  Specification  attached;  on  my  presenting  the 
same  you  considerd  the  building  too  short.  Returned  on  the 
12th  with  another  estimate  and  10  feet  added  to  the  length. 
This  was  altogether  abandoned  and  on  the  13th  I  waited  on 
your  reverence  with  an  Estimate  from  (own  plan)  for  Brick 
and  Stone  work  only  the  same  being  the  seventh  Contract. 

On  attending  on  Saturday  the  15th  you  was  pleased  to 
say  that  I  may  try  for  the  Stone  work  only. 

My  exertion  to  obtain  the  necessary  information  has  been 
attended  an  extra  outlay  and  serious  loss  of  time — Four  jour- 
nies  to  St.  Anns  (once  with  a  Brickmaker  at  my  charge)  and 
during  the  six  weeks  have  been  actually  engaged  on  the 
drawings,  journies  and  calculations  216  hours. 
Respectfully  declining  further  interferencef, 

I  rem11  Revd.  Sir, 

Your  obedt.  Servant 

John  Cobb. 
P.S.     The  quantity  of  Brickwork  as  pr  my  plan  was  23 
rods  3  quarters  56  feet — or  in  round  numbers  24  rods. 
4352  number  required  in  one  rod 
24  Rods 


104448 
50000  on  the  Ground 


54448  Required 
NB.    The  less  number  required  on  account  of  2  feet  less 
in  heigth  was  accounted  for  in  my  last  estimate. 

fin  spite  of  this  resolve  Mr.  Cobb  did  his  part  in  building  St.  Anne's. 


APPENDIX    A  357 

59.     Father  Therry  to  Dr.  Bland  (Draft). 

Festival  of  the  Invention  of  the  holy  Cross, 

3rd  May  1861. 

My  dear  Doctor  Bland, 

On  this  day  forty  one  years  I  arrived  in  this 
Colony  after  a  long  and  very  perilous  voyage  having  with  me  a 
particle  of  the  holy  Cross  the  festival  of  the  invention  or 
finding  of  which  by  Saint  Helena  mother  of  Constantine  the 
Great  is  celebrated  by  the  Catholic  Church  on  this  anniversary 
and  having  had  from  that  day  to  the  present  during  which  time 
I  have  been  honored  by  your  Friendship  many  opportunities 
of  observing  that  the  principal  object  of  your  ambition  has 
constantly  been  to  promote  the  interests  not  only  of  the  Society 
amongst  whom  you  reside  and  of  which  you  are  justly  looked 
upon  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  members,  but  those  of 
mankind  in  General  I  feel  that  I  can  with  well  founded  con- 
fidence make  a  suggestion  to  you  which  under  your  patron- 
age as  a  great  promoter  of  Science  may  be  of  considerable  ad- 
vantage to  the  public  in  general.  Permit  me  to  make  this  sugges- 
tion in  a  very  plain  and  simple  way  by  requesting  you  at  a 
leisure  hour,  which  you  very  seldom  have,  to  order  your  do- 
mestic bath  to  be  nearly  filled  with  water,  a  cord  of  about  half 
an  inch  diameter  with  some  pieces  of  Cork  and  as  many  of 
lead  to  be  provided.  Let  the  cord  be  passed  through  as  many 
pieces  of  Cork  as  many  be  sufficient  to  make  the  cord  float 
horizontally  on  the  surface  of  the  Water  from  one  end  to  the 
other  of  the  vessel,  attach  a  piece  of  lead  to  every  part  of  the 
Cord  that  passes  through  a  cork  of  weight  sufficent  to  sink 
the  cord  and  corks  to  the  bottom,  but  let  the  weights  be 
attachd  to  the  cord  by  strings  of  a  length  equal  only  to  three- 
fourths  of  the  depth  of  the  water. 

To  your  Scientific  and  comprehensive  mind  this  experiment 
would  be  superfluous  but  to  the  generality  of  mankind  it 
might  be  profitable  and  would  not  even  by  scientific  men  like 
yourself  disregarded  on  account  of  its  simplicity.  I  need 
scarcely  add  that  it  is  my  wish  that  you  should  in  your  own 
way  endeavour  to  give  on  a  grand  scale  to  the  submarine  tele- 
graphic cable  the  benefit  on  a  grand  scale  of  this  humble  sug- 
gestion. 


358  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

60.     Joseph  Spruson  to  Father  Therry. 

135  Elizabeth  Street,  Sydney. 

Sydney  24th  July   1861. 

Very  Revd  and  dear  Sir, 

I  have  become  the  lucky  possessor  of  what  I 
esteem  the  most  valuable  relic  of  our  holy  Religion  in  the  Aus- 
tralian Colonies — the  cross  which  formerly  occupied  the  front 
gable  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral.  I  believe  it  to  be  the  first  stone 
cross  ever  reared  up  in  this  remote  part  of  the  globe.  I  would 
like  to  know  all  about  it,  especially  whether  the  supposition  I 
have  just  made  is  correct.  I  know  you  can  fully  satisfy  my 
curiosity;  and  every  word  from  you,  tending  to  that  end,  I 
shall  look  upon  as  a  gift  the  most  precious,  and  one  which  will 
ever  place  me  under  obligation  to  you.  My  object  in  obtain- 
ing this  relic  is  twofold ;  to  preserve  it  as  I  think  it  should  be 
preserved;  and  to  substitute  it  for  a  monument  over  my  de- 
ceased wife's  remains,  and,  in  process  of  time,  over  my  own 
too. 

I  rejoice  beyond  measure  in  being  able  to  do  so.  When  I 
landed  on  these  shores,  more  than  twenty  years  since,  the  first 
object  my  eye  wandered  in  search  of  was  the  Cross;  and  when 
I  beheld  it,  I  wept  like  a  child,  and  thought  to  myself  "Truly 
the  Irish  are  here,  for  there  is  the  Cross  exalted."  Little  did 
I  then  think  that  that  very  Cross  was  destined  to  stand  over 
my  own  tomb. 

As  many  persons,  who  would  gladly  venerate  so  valuable 
a  relic,  might  not  be  able  to  identify  it  in  its  new  capacity,  I 
would  wish  to  have  a  suitable  inscription  on  it,  stating  when 
you  placed  it  upon  St  Mary's,  Etc.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  word  this 
inscription  &  therefore  have  recourse  to  you.  If  you  would 
dictate  a  form  for  me,  Very  Revd  Sir,  you  would  much  oblige 

An  old  friend  and  Colonist, 
Very  Revd.  J.  Therry  Joseph  Spruson. 

Arch-Priest,  Balmain 


61.     K.  Proberty  to  Mrs.  O'Sullivan. 

Balmain  June  5th  1864 
Dear  Mrs.  O'Sullivan 

In  reply  to  your  note  I  forward  you  a  few 
particulars  of  the  last  of  our  dear  old  friend  Father  Therry. 
You  will  be  glad  to  learn  he  died  without  a  struggle.  I  was 
the  first  after  Father  McEncroe  to  see  him.    His  head  was 


APPENDIX    A  359 

slightly  bent  arms   crossed   and   eyes   closed   I   washed   and 
assisted  Father  Maurice  to  put  his  remains  in  the  coffin. 

His  usual  supper  was  boiled  milk  and  bread  of  which  he 
partook  that  evening.  His  bedclothes  were  warm  and  of  suf- 
ficient quantity.  Truly  may  be  said  we  have  lost  a  good  and 
holy  priest.  May  his  manifold  acts  of  charity  be  rewarded  a 
hundredfold  in  Heaven  is  the  sincere  prayer  of 

K.  Proberty. 


62.    John  O'Sullivan  to  Messrs.  Stephen  and  Stephen. 

[From  a  copy  inserted  by  John  O'Sullivan  in  the  last  volume  of  Father 
Therry's  Diary.] 

Hunter's  Hill,  near  Sydney, 

4th  November  1869. 
The  Messrs.  Stephen, 

Solicitors,  Sydney. 
Dear  Sirs, 

It  seems  that  the  sister  of  the  late  Very  Rev. 
Father  John  Joseph  Therry  means  to  contest  his  will  by  'put- 
ting the  property  through  the  Courts.'  I  have  to  request  that 
you  will  not  pay  one  penny  of  costs  to  those  who  represent  her 
in  Sydney,  unless  you  get  a  full  guarantee  signed  by  her  before 
proper  witnesses  that  she  will  forego  all  the  legal  proceedings 
now  carried  on  in  her  name,  and  a  further  guarantee  that  she 
will  for  the  future  abide  the  words  and  terms  of  Father 
Therry's  last  will  and  testament  which  as  regards  his  rela- 
tives runs  as  follows: — 'My  brothers  and  sister,  James,  Ste- 
phen and  Jane  Ann,  are  to  receive  during  life  one  hundred 
pounds  per  annum  each ;  my  sister  to  have  during  her  life  the 
use  free  of  rent  of  my  house  in  Hobart  Town.'  Although  I 
have  as  great  an  objection  to  enter  on  law  suits  as  most  men 
(during  a  pretty  long  life  I  have  scarcely  ever  figured  as 
either  plaintiff  or  defendant  in  any  suit)  I  would  prefer  law 
rather  than  submit  to  gross  wrong  or  be  a  party  to  the  unjust 
claim  of  an  individual  who  cannot  in  my  mind,  be  a  free  agent 
or  in  her  perfect  senses ;  for  no  sane  or  conscientious  Catholic 
would  covet  even  one  shilling  of  any  priest's  property,  when 
that  property  has  been  left  for  the  best  and  holiest  of  purposes 
— Religion,  Charity  and  Education. 

I  am,  dear  Sirs, 

Yours  truly 

J.  O'Sullivan. 


29 


360  LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST   THERRY 

P.S.  As  Mr.  Veardy  and  I  are  both  advanced  in  years, 
and  as  my  health  is  much  impaired,  nothing  would  give  me 
more  pleasure  than  to  place  the  estate  of  the  late  Father 
Therry,  with  the  sanction  of  the  Court,  in  the  hands  of  his 
principal  legatees — the  Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus — for 
the  purposes  mentioned  in  his  will,  they  undertaking  to  pay 
Father  Therry's  brothers  and  sister  the  legacies  mentioned  in 

*'  J.O'S. 


APPENDIX    B. 


[Names  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  Government,  thirty-seven 
magistrates,  and  fourteen  hundred  professional  men,  merchants  and 
householders  who  signed  the  petition  of  March,  1830,  for  the  rein- 
statement of  Father  Therry  as  Government  Chaplain.     (See  p.  132.) 

For  convenience'  sake  the  names  have  been  arranged  in  alpha- 
betical order.  In  the  original  those  of  the  Attorney-General  and  Sir 
John  Jamison  head  the  list.] 


Geo.  Acres 

John  Aitchison 

Samuel   Aitchison 

J.  Allan,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  57th  Regi- 
ment 

Nicol    Allan,    Solicitor 

George   Allen,  Solicitor 

John  D.  Alley 

Francis  Allman,  J. P. 

F.  Allman,  junr. 

Thomas  Anions 

Abraham   Anderson 

David  Anderson 

David  Andsley 

Charles  Appleton 

Richard  Archbold 

J.  Armstrong 

R.   Armstrong 

Thomas  Armstrong 

Benjamin  Ashby 

T.  Asby 

Thos.  Ashford 

Henry   Ashley 

Timothy    Asquith 

Amos  Aston 

William   Atkinson 

P.  Aubin,  J.  P. 

Henry  Austin 

William  Badley 

D.  Bagly 

Charles   Bailes 

William  Bailey 

J.  Bailly 

John  Baker 

P.  Baldwin 

Wellow    Baldwin 

W.  Baldwin 

W.  Banin 


Thos.  Barber 
James   Barker 
Jos.  Barker 
Thomas   Barker 
William  Barker 
William  Barlow 
John  Barry 
J.  Bartley 
Jas.  Basdely 
Abraham   Bateman 
Wm.  Bateman 
Wm.    Bateman,    junior 
J.  Bates 
W.  Batman 
Alexander  M.   Baxter, 

Attorney-General 
James  Bean 
William  Bean 
Francis   Beattie 
B.  Bedford 
A.   Bell,   iunior 
Francis  Bell 
John  Bell 
J.  Belmey 
W.  Belmey 
Edward    Bennett 
W.  Bennett 
Wm.   Bennett 
J.  Bergen 

Michael  Bergen,  Surgeon 
P.  L.  Berni 
J.    B.    Bettington,   J.P. 
Joseph  Bigge 
S.  Bilingslay 
Patrick  Bird 
Walter    Birmingham 
John  Black 
J.   Blake 
T.   Blake 


William  Bland,  M.D. 
Patrick  Blaney 
Gregory  Blaxland,  J.P. 
James    Bloodsworth 
T.  V.  Bloomfield 
Thomas   Bodenham 
M.   Booker 
H.  Booth 
Thomas   Bordman 
Frederick    Boucher 
Thos.  Boult 
Thomas  Boulton 
A.   Bowden 
M.  Bowen 
H.  B.  Bowerman, 

D.A.C.G. 
Thos.  Bowers 
Alex.   Bowman 
George   Bowman 
Samuel   Bowyer 
Owen  Boyan 
J.    Boylan 
R.  Boyle 
W.  Boyle 
James   Bradley 
Daniel  Brady 
John  Brady- 
David   Braidwaite 
T.   Brandon 
Thos.  Brandson 
J.  Brennan 
M.  Brennan 
P.   Brennan 
William  Bresh 
J.  Bridekirk 
H.   Briggs 
R.   Brisbane 
P.    Broadie 
R.    Brodie 


361 


362 


LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


William   Broclrick 

Jos.   Broshow 

Jas.    Broughton 

Wm.    H.    Broughton 

George  Brown 

George  Brown 

George  Brown 

J.   Brown 

J.   Brown 

Tames   Brown 

Jas.  Brown 

Jas.   Brown 

John  Brown 

John  Brown 

John   C.    Brown 

J.  W.   Brown 

Robert  Brown 

T.  Brown 

Thomas   Brown 

Wm.    Brown 

W.  Jemmet  Brown,  J.P. 

W.  M.   Brown 

R.  Brownlow 

Stephen  Bryant 

William    Buchanan 

Edward   Buckley 

G.   Buckley 

J.  Buckley 

Jos.   Buckley 

Patrick    Buckley 

J.  Bucklv 

Wm.  Bucknell 

William   Budnett 

Charles   Jas.    Bulivant 

John    Bunberry 

George   Bunn.  J.P. 

Thomas   Burdekin 

Hugh  Burgess 

Alex.  Burke 

Edmund   Burke 

Edward  Burke 

J.   Burke 

P.   Burke 

John   Burrell 

S.  M.  Burrowes,  Ensign, 

h.p. 
Paul   Bushel 
John  Butcher 
John  Butler 
Lawrence   Butler 
Robert  Butler 
Walter   Butler 
David   Buxton 
Andrew  Byrne 


J.  Byrne 
James  Byrne 
James  Byrne 
James  Byrne 
John  Byrne 
John  Byrne 
J.  P.  Byrne 
Owen  Byrne 
Patrick  Byrne 
Richard  Byrne 
Richard  Byrne 
Thomas  Byrne 
D.   Byrnes 
J.  Byrnes 
J.  Byrnes 
J.  Byrnes 

Jas.    Byrnes,    senior 
Wm.  Byrnes 
Jas.   Byrns 
T.Byrny 
Mich.   Calahan 
P.  Calahan 
J.  Calighan 
Dalmahoy    Campbell 
John   Campbell 
Martin   Campbell 
Patrick   F.    Campbell 
Richard  Campbell 
R.   Campbell,  junior 
J.  Canady 
John  Cape 
R.  Cape 

William  Timothy  Cape 
James  Capel 
Nicholas  Carberry 
John    Carmichael 
Felix   Carney 
J.   Carr 

Frederick  B.  Carrick 
P.  Carroll 
John   Carry,   senior 
John   Carry,  junior 
J.    Carter 
Jeremiah    Carty 
James  Casey 
Patrick  Casey 
Michael  Cassidy 
Morris  Castle 
Patrick   Catril 
Nicholas    Cavillon 
J  Chadwick 
Wm.    Challoner 
Charles   H.    Chambers, 
Solicitor 


Thos.    Chapman 

W.  H.   Chapman 

W.   Charles 

J.  Cheers 

Charles  Clancy 

John  Claney 

John  Clarke 

John   Clarke 

Michael   Clarke 

W.  Clarke 

Wm.  Clarke 

James   Clarkson 

T.   Clarks'on 

Chas.  Clavton 

Samuel  Clayton 

Samuel  Cleues 

E.  C  Close,  M.C. 

John  Cobb 

Tate  Coffey 

Thomas  Colles 

Philip  Collin 

Thomas  Collings 

Dennis  Collins 

Wm.   Comber 

Jas.   Condon 
J.   Condren 
J.   Conlin 

Thomas   Connedy 
James  Connell 
John  Connell 

Patrick  Connell 
James    Connelly 

Thomas    Connelly 
James  Connolly 
George  Connor 
James   Connor 
James   Connor 
James    Connor,   junior 
John   Connor 
J.  L.   Connor 
Michael  Connor 
Wm.    Connor 
W.    P.   Connor 
Edward    Connyngham 
Patrick    Connyngham 
Patrick   Conoboy 
P.  Conolly 
Samuel   Conolly 
William  Conolly 
Henry   Cooke 
R.  Cooke 
Wm.   Coombs 
Daniel   Cooper 
J.    Cooper 


APPENDIX    B 


363 


John   Cooper 

T.   Cooper 

Thomas  Cooper 

Patrick  Corbett 

Richard    Corbolly 

William  Cordeaux,  J.P. 

Jas.   Cosier 

Thos.    Cosier 

Wm.   Cosier 

A.   Coss 

T.   Coss 

Joseph   Costello 

P.  Covenagh 

James  Cox 

John  Cox 

P.    Cox 

Robert  Cox 

S.  Cox,  J.P. 

Christopher    Crane 

Samuel    Cranstone 

Andrew   Crawford 

M.  Crew 

William  Crib, 

J.  Crisp 

James  Croft 

John  Croker 

Thos.  Crosly 

William   Crowe 

John  Crowley 

John  Cuffe 

T.  Cuffe 

John  Cummings 

William  Cummings 

John    Cummins 

John  Cureton 

G.    C.    Curlewis 

James    C.   Curry 

James  Curtis 

William   Dangar 

George  Pitt  Darcy,  J.P. 

Wm.  Dark 

Edward    Daugherty 

T.  Davey 

Patrick  Davies 

William  Davies 

W.  O.  Wen  Davies 

R.  Davis 

John  Wm.  Dawson 

Wm.  Dawson 

J.  Dean 

Joseph  Deane 

John   Deegan 

Thomas  Deering 

J.  Delaney 


M.  Delaney 
Lawrence  Delany 
Dennis  Deneene 
S.  Dent 
C.  Devine 
Nicholas   Devine 
T.  Devoy 
J.   Dewhurst 
Timothy    Diggin 
E.   Dillon 
Luke  Dillon 
M.    Dillon 
R.  C.  Dillon 
Thos.  Dillon 
R.  Donaugh 
James  Donegan 
Garret  Donelly 
Wm.    Donelly 
John  Donohoe 
Daniel   Donovan 
H.   Donuahy 
Henry    Douglass 
J.  Dowde 
M.   Downey 
Edward   Doyle 
Thos.    Doyle 
Wm.   Doyle 
John   Dreal 
Samuel  Drew 
H.  J.   Drinkwater 

A.  Drisdale 
George    Druitt    J.P. 
Alexander  Duff 

B.  N.  Duffy 
J.   Dumtrey 
J.   Duncan 
John   Dunn 
Richard    Dunn 
Thomas  Dunn 
William  Dunn 
Wm.   Dunn 

J.  Dunpree 
P  Dunuchy 

D.  Dwyer 

E.  Dwyer 
James  Dwyer 
John  Dwyer 
Peter  Dwyer 
D.  Eagan 
George  Earl 
John  Earl 
Robert  Earl 
John  Earle 
Eneas  Early 


Henry  Early 
C.  Ecklin 
John  Edwardson 
John  Egan 
Jas.   Elder 
Alexander   Elliott 
Chas.   Ellis 
Chas.   England 
Richard  England 
John  Erskine 
John  Evans 
J.  Evans 
John  Eweng 
J.  Eyels 

Christopher     Eyrrell 
Edward  Fagan 
Peter  Fagan 
William    Fairis 
John   Fallan 
Wm.  Fanning 
James  Farmer 
Charles   Farrell 
Edward  Farrell 
John  Farrell 
Michael  Farrell 
Owen  Farrell 
J.  Farthing 
James  Fearis 
Henry  Ferris 
George  Field 
Jas.   Field 
Thomas  Field 
Abraham  Fielding 
C.    Finnegan 
Geo.    Fisher 
Wm.   Fisher 
J.   Fitzgerald 
Michael   Fitzgerald 
Thomas   Fitzgerald 
Wm.  Fitzgerald 
Ambrose    Fitzpatrick 
B.  Fitzpatrick 
Colum  Fitzpatrick 
John   Fitzpatrick 
Thomas  Fitzimons 
A.    Fitzumins 
Francis   Flanagan 
H.  Flannagan 
J.  Flavan 
John  Fleming 
Mich.  Fleming 
W.    Fleming 
Charles  Flinn 
John  Flinn 


364 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


William   Flinn 
C.  Flood 
Edward  Flood 
Jos.  Flood 
Thomas  Fluskey 
John    Fogarty 
Samuel  Foley 
John  Folkard 
F.  E.  Forbes 
Thos.  Ford 

C.  Foss 
James  Foster 
W.  Foster,  J.P. 
Win.  Fowler 
Charles  Fox 
James  Fox 
Chas.  Francis 
Edward  Franks 
H.   C.   Frederick 
William   Freeman 
Wm.  French 

E.  Fuller 
Edward    Galloway 
John   Galvin 
James   Gannon 
Thomas    Garred 
Patrick  Garrigan 

D.  Geeron 
T.  Gerrity 
Thomas   Gervase 
J.  Gibney 

F.  Gibson 
J.   Gilbert 
Samuel    Gilbert 
John   Gilchrist 
Peter    Gilespy 
James  Gill 
Jas.   Gill 
Joseph    Gilmor 
F.   Girard 
Richard    Glanville 
Florence    Gleeson 
Alfred   Glennie 
Jas.   Glennie,  J.P. 
Bernard  Glover 

J.    Godfrey 
J.    Goldsmith 

E.  Goodwin 
J.   Gooin 
Jos.  Goold 

John  Goolding,  junior 
John  Goolding 
David   Gordon 
M.  N.  Gore 


John  Gorman 

John  Gorman 

W.  Graddon 

P.   Grail 

W.  Graham 

Mich.   Grant 

C.   H.   Gray 

G.  F.  Green,  Captain  & 
Paymaster  57th  Regi- 
ment 

H.    S.    Green 

R.  Green 

F.  H.   Greenway 
Jas.   Greig 
Hugh    Gronan 

G.  Groves 
J.   Guider 
R.    Gunn 
J.  Gurry 
J.    Hacket 
Thos.   Hacket 
Thos.   Hacket 
Jas.  Hackett 
Edward    Smith    Hall 
W.  Hall 

William    Hall 
L.    H.    Halloran 
Andrew    Hamilton 
James  Hamilton 
Wm.    Hamilton 
Wm.    Hamilton 
Wm.    Hamsden 
Michael  Hancy 
B.   Handiman 
P.  Handlen 
J.   Hanham 
James  Hanks 
Wm.    Hanks 
Reuben   Hannam 
David   Harman 
J.  Harn 
Jos.   J.    Harper 
Thos.   Harper 
Wm.   Harper 
Chas.  Harpur 
S.    L.   Harris 
Thos.  Harris 
Geo.    Flarrison 
Samuel    Harrison 
Geo.  Harvey 
J.   Harvey 
R.    Harvey 
John   Hassett 
John  Haughton 


G.   Hawker 
S.  Hawker 
Wm.  Hay 
James  Hayan 
Jas.   Hayden 
Lionel   Haye 
Mick   Haydon 
Nich.  Haydon 
Atwell   Edwin  Hayes 
C.  Hayes 
Edward  Hayes 
John  Hayes 
Mich.    Hayes 
Patrick    Hayes 
W.   Hayes 
Richard  Haynes 
J.  Haywood 
Wm.    Haywood 
P.  Head 
Matt.  Heally 
Thos.   Heley 
John    Henderson 
James  Henery 
David   Hennesy 
Wm.    Simpson    Hen- 

ningham 
Garret  Herbert 
Henry  Hewitt 
Wm.  Hewson 
Wm.   Hickey 
T.   Higgins 
Arthur   Hill 
G.  Hill 

Patrick  Hill,  J.P. 
W.  Hill 
John  Hillier 
Patrick  Hinchy 
Jos.  Hingly 
Richard   Hinton 
B.   Hitchcock 
J.   Hodges 
William    Hodges 
W.  Hodson 
Charles    Hogsrlesh 
Thomas   Holden 
J.   Holloway 
T.  Hollywell 
J.  Holmes 
>Jas.    Holpin 
E.  Holt 
A.   Hordern 
William    Horster 
J.  Hosking 
Henry   Hough 


APPENDIX    B 


365 


Robert   How 
Gregory  Howe 
Geo.    Howel,   junior 
Matt.  Howlett 
W.    Hudsell 
J.  Hudson 
Robert   Hudson 
E.    Hugerford,   J.P. 
H.  Hughes 
Philip  Hughes 
S.  Hughes 
T.   Hughes 
T.    Hughes,   jun. 
George  Hughson 
J.  B.  Hughson 
Nicholas    Hulahan 
John  Hull 
Michael    Humphres 
George    Humphrey 
Francis  Hunt 
John  Hunt 
A.   Hunter 
David   Huntly 
Thos.    Hutchinson 
William    Hutchinson 
John  Huxham 
George   Ibbotson 
William  Ikin 
J.  Imery 
James    Ingram 
Geo.    Innes,   J.P. 
W.  Innes 
W.  Innis 
L.   Iredale 
J.  Irving 

John  L.  Jackson,  Bar- 
rack   Master 
P.  Jackson 
William  Jackson 
John  James 
T.  Horton  James 
Sir  John  Jamison 
Chas.  Jenkins 
David   Jennings 
Joseph   Jennings 
John  Johnson 
Thos.   Johnson 
W.  Johnson 
James  Johnston 
Edward   Johnstone 
M.  Johnstone 
William    Johnstone 
Edward  Jones 
Fred.  Jones 


Geo.  Jones 

J.    Jones 

J.   Jones 

John  Jones 
(Robert  Jones 

Samuel    Perry   Jones 

T.  Jones 

William  Jones 

J.   Josepson 

John  Joyce 

John  Joyce 

Anthony   Junkavay 

Thos.  Kain 

F.  Karney 

James   Kearney 

Jas.  Kearney 

L.  Kearney 

Michael  Kearney 

J.  Keaten 

Bartholomew  Keefe 

Philip  Keefe 

Andrew   Keenan 

P.  Kehoe 

Edward  James  Keith, 
Solicitor 

Tohn  Kellick 

C.   Kelly 

George  Kelly 

J.   Kelly 

James  Kelly 

P.  J.  Kelly 

William   Kelly 

Arthur    Kemmis 

R.  Kemp 

J.   Kennedy 

John   Kennedy 

Peter   Kennedy 

Thomas    Kennedy 

J.   Kenny 

J.   Keog'h 

William  H.  Kerr.  Bar- 
rister at  Law 

C.  Kidd 

E.   T.   Kidd 

Thomas    King 

Alex.   Kinghorn,   J.P. 

Wm.    Klensendorlffe 

Edward  Lack 

J.  Lacy 

James  Laidley,  J. P.,  and 
Deputy  Commissary 
General 

M.  Laler 

John  Lamb 


J.    Lamb,  J.P. 
John   Lanarch 
William   Lannon 
J.    Laragy 
Edgar   Larkin 
Samuel    Larkin 
Maurice    Lauley 
S.   Laurance 
B.   Lawless 
F.    Lawless,    senior 

F.  Lawless,  junior 
N.   Lawson 

R.  Lawson 
S.  Lawson 
W.   Lawson,   senior, 

J.P. 
Cornelius   Leary 

G.  M.    Leary 
J.  Leary 

J.   Leary,  jun. 
Patrick  Leary 
E.   Ledsham 
W.  Lee 
J.   Leek 
Henry    Lenden 
Jermiah   Leonard 
Mich.   Leonard 
William  Leonion 
John  Lever 
Barnett    Levey 
Thos.    Lewelen 
Wm.  Lewis 
John   Light 
George    Lindley 
Alex.    Livingstone 
John   P.   Lloyd 
Andrew  Loder 
J.    Loins 
Daniel   Long- 
John  Long 
Robert   Long 
Wm.    Long 
V.   Lowe 
Charles   Lucas 
J.   Lucas 
Patrick  Lycett 
Barnet  Lynch 
D.   Lynch 
Daniel  Lynch 
J.  Lynch 
James  Lynch 
Owen    Lynch 
Thomas    Lynch 
Dennis  Lyons 


366 


LIFE    OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


James  Lyons 
Samuel  Lyons 
Saul  Lyons 
Thomas   M'Ardle 
John  M'Blane 

D.  M'Bride 

E.  M'Cabe 

F.  M'Cabe 
Andrew    M'Caffray 
John  McCarty 
Robert  M'Catsar 
Hough  M'Clain 

J.    M'Clattan 
P.   M'Cormick 
Edward    M'Dermott 
Wm.  M'Dermott 
George    M'Donald 
J.  M'Donald 
J.  M'Donald 
William    Macdonald 
J.   M'Donough 
James  McDougall 
Henry   Mace 
Patrick  M'Ennery 
John    M'Farlane 
William   M'Farling 
William    M'Garvie 
James   M'Gingham 
J.  M'Grath 
Edward   M'Guigan 
James   M'Guigan 
John  M'Guigan 
Hugh  M'Ibroy 
C.  H.  Mcintosh 
O.   M'Intyre 
Peter   Mclntyre,  J.  P. 
J.    Mackaness,    Barris- 
ter at  Law 
Daniel  M'Kay 
James  M'Kay 
Archibald    M'Kellup 
John   M'Kelly 
Hugh   M'Kenna 

A.  K.  Mackenzie 
Humphry   M'Keon 
John  Maclaren 

J.  M'Laughlin 

Alex.    Macleod    (Rat- 

gan) 
Alex.    Macleod,   J. P. 

B.  M'Loughlin 
J.  M'Lurdy 
Daniel  McMahon 
John   M'Mahon 


Michael    M'Mahon 
J.  M'Maurice 
John   M'Nalty 
Francis  M'Namara 
Michael   M'Namara 
Daniel  M'Nulty 
M.   M'Quade 
Thomas   McVitie,  J.  P. 
Henry   Magee 
Andrew   Maguire 
Mich.    Maguire 
James    Mahony 
Michael    Mahony 
Morris    Mahony 
Patrick   Mahony 
Edward   Main 
J.   Malcolm 
Francis   Malone 
J.  Malony 
J.  Mangan 
Charles    Manning 
John   Manning 
John  Manning 
John    Edye    Manning, 

J.P. 

Ralph   Mansfield 
M.  Mare 
F.  Marel 
J.  Mark 

Edmund    Markham 
Patrick    Marrinion 
P.  Marrow 
Charles    Marshall 
George   Marshall 
John  Marshall 
J.   Martin 
Jas.  Martin 
John    Martin 
Peter  Martin 
Thos.   Martin 
J.    Mason 
Squire    Mason 
Daniel  Deering 

Matthew 
F.  J.  Matthews 
J.  Matthews 
W.  Matthews 
T.  May 
W.  Meeane 
Owen  Meehan 
Andrew   Melville 
Robt.   Melville 
Melville    and    Andrews 
P.  de  Mestre 


Francis   Mitchell 

Houston  Mitchell 

James    Mitchell 

Thomas   Mitchell 

I.  Mobbs 

W.   Mobbs,   senr. 

Wm.   Moffat 

Hugh  Molloy 

W.  Molls 

Thos.    Moncur 

Baron   Montefiore 

Ralph  Mood 

Charles  D.  Moore,  So- 
licitor 

Jos.  Moore 

P.  Moore 

P.  Moore 

Thomas   Moore,   J.P. 

William   Moore 

W.  H.  Moore,  Solicitor, 
Supreme  Court 

B.   Moran 

Daniel   Moran 

Francis   Moran,   M.D. 

J.  Mordant 

Flugh   Morgan 

John   Morgan 

Joseph  Morley 

John  Morris 

Thos.    Morris 

H.    Morrison 

John   Morrison 

Rowland  Morton 

Geo.   Mosman 

Isaac  Moss 

John    Mossman 

J.   Mudie 

Geo.  Muir 

Francis    Muldoon 

Thomas    Mullens 

Wm.    Mullin 

Thomas    Mulvehill 

Thomas    Mumford 

P.  H.  Munroe 

Alex.  Murray 

Dennis  Murray 

Edmund    Murray 

J.   Murray 

Jas.   Murray 

Dennis   Murphy 

Francis    Murphy 

J.  Murphy 

Jeremiah    Murphy 

Matthew   Murphy 


APPENDIX    B 


367 


Michael  Murphy 
Patrick   Murphy 
Patrick  Murphy 
R.  Murphy 
Richard   Murphy 
William    Murphy 
Wm.   A.   B.   Nagle 
Andrew  Nash 
J.  Nash^ 
David   Nawlin 
John  Neil 
John  Neil 
J.  Nelson 
Moses  Nelson 
J.  Nettleton 
James    Newman 
Thos.  Newman 
J.  Newton 
Philip  F.  Neyle 
Benjamin   Nichols 
John  Nicolls 
James   Nicholson 
J.   Nightingale 
H.  H.  T.  Noble 
J.  Nock 
D.  Noonan 
George  Frederick  Nott 
T.    E.    Nott,    late 

Lieutenant   R.N. 
Thomas  Edward  Nott, 

junior 
Bryan   Nowlan 
John  Nowlan 
P.  Nowlan 
Richard   Nowlan 
Richard    Nugent 
J.   Oatley 
J.   O'Brian 
C    O'Brien 
M.  O'Brien 
Thos.   O'Brien 
J.  O'Connell 
A.   O'Donnell 
John    O'Donnell 
John  O'Donnell 
Wm.    O'Donnell 
Edward    O'Hara 
J.   O'Hara 
Jas.   O'Laughlin 
Wm.  Oldfield 
Geo.  Oldis 
Tohn  O'Neil 
William  O'Neil 
Samuel   Onions 


D.  C.  Orpen 

J.   Osburn 

S.    Osmond 

John    O'Sullivan 

Henry   Dickson   Owen 

John  Owen 

S.   Owen 

F.  Owrne 
J.    Paisley 

G.  Pall 
T.  Pall 

Geo.    Thomas    Palmer, 

J.P. 
John   Palmer,   J.P. 
John    Palmer,    junior, 

J.P. 
William  Panton 
Thos.  Parrott 
John  Parton 
George  Pashley,  senior 
Toseph   Pashley 

F.  J.  Pasley 

C.  Pass 

G.  Patman 
Jos.   Patteson 
John  Paul 
James    Payne 
John   Payne 
James   Pearson 
William    Pendray 
J.  Pennie 

Geo.   Perry 
T.   Philipen 
J.    Philips 
Michael   Phillips 
Wm.  Phillips 
Wm.   Phillips 
W.   Phin 
Thomas   Pidding 
Jas.  Pierce 

D.  Pike 
H.  Piper 
Hugh   Piper 
J.   Pitchogs 
G.  T.   Pitman 
J.  L.   Piatt 
Richard   Podmore 
George  Louis  Poignand, 

Solicitor 
Chas.   Pollard 
D.   Poole,  Solicitor 
George  Porter 
David  Poten 
J.  H.   Potts 


William  Powditch 
John  Powell 
Manuel  del  Prado 
Francis    Prendergast 
Wm.  Price 
Joseph  Pritchard 
R.  C.  Pritchett 
Cornelius    Prout,    Under 

Sheriff 
J.   Purcell 
James  Purcell 
Patrick   Purcell 
William  Purcell 
James  Quigley 
Peter  Quigley 
Francis  Quilty 
James  Quin 
John  Quin 
Patrick  Quin 
Maurice  Quinlan 
M.   Rafferty 
Mark   Rafferty 
M.   Rafter 
W.  Rafter 
Thomas    Raine   J.P. 
James   Rainy 
Maurice  Rale 
Chris.    Ralph 
Wm.   Ramage 
James   Ramsdale 

E.  Raper 
Joseph  Raphael 
P.  Heade  Read 
Richard  Read 
Edward  Redmond 
Patrick  Reed 

J.  Reid,  J.P. 
Jas.    Reilly 

F.  Reynolds 
James  Reynolds 
Richard  Reynolds 
Thomas  Reynolds 
Thos.   Reynolds 
Wm.  Reynolds 
William   Reynolds 
Thos.   Rice 

Jno.    Richards 
J.   Richardson 
John   Richardson 
John    Richardson 
J.   Rickards 
Benjamin  Rickson 
David  Rigby 
J.   Riley 


368 


LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 


Chas.  Roberts 
Geo.   Roberts 
J.   Roberts 
Jas.   Roberts 
Thomas    Roberts 
William   Roberts 
J.    Robertson 
J.    M.    Robieson 
J.  Robins 
Henry    Robinson 
J.  C.  Robley 
James   Roche 
John   Roche 
J.   Rochester 
M.   Roley 
J.   Rooke 
Charles   Room 
John  Rorke 
J.   Rose 
Wm.  Rose 
Watts    Roston 

Bernard    Rotchford 
Walter  Rotton 
C.  Rourke 
Miles  Rourke 
J.   Rowall 
William   Rowan 

Thomas  D.  Rowe,  Soli- 
citor Supreme  Court 

John   Rowley 

Wm.   Rudge 

J.  Rurke 

E.  Russell 

James  Ryan 

M.   Ryan 

Matt.   Ryan 

Michael  Ryan 

Thomas  Ryan 

William   Ryan 

Henry   Sage 

Joseph  Salter 

Thomas    Salter 

George  Sanders 

Edward   Sandwell 

T.   Saunders 

Geo.   Savage 

Robert   Scales 

Helenus   Scott,  J.    P. 

J.   Scott 

Wm.   Radkin  Scott 

John    Scougall 

Thos.    Shaughnessy 

Miles  Sheehv,  Solicitor 

Timothy   Sheffield 


Jas.  Shepherd 

Geo.  Sherbin 

W.    Shiels 

J.  Shoobert 

M.   Short 

John    Silver 

Richard   Simmons 

Thomas    Simms 

Edward    Simpson 

Robert  Simpson 

Wakefield   Simpson 

Joseph  Slater 

Samuel   Slater 

Chas.    Slatter 

Peter  Sloe 

J.  Small 

Wm.   Small 

James   Smallwood 

J.  Smart 

Thomas  Smart 

T.    Smeatham    Coroner 

A.  Smith 
Benjamin    Smith 

B.  M.  Smith 
Charles   Smith,   M.D. 
David  Smith 
George   Smith 

H.   Smith 

J.  Smith 

J.  Smith 

J.  Smith 

J.  Smith 

James    Smith 

James    Smith 

Jas.   Smith 

John    Smith 

John    Smith 

John   Smith 

J.   G.   Smith 

Robt.    Smith 

W.   G.   Smith 

J.   Smithers 

Andrew   Snowden 

H.    Snowden 

John  Snowden 

Andrew   Sparke 

George  Sparke 

William   Sparke 

William  Sparke,  junior 

J.   Spear 

J.    Spear 

William    Speering 

J.   B.   Squire 

James   Stafford 


G.   Stanbury 
Abram    Stanfield 
W.   Stanley 
Thomas    Stapleton 
A.  Steel 

Francis    Stephen,    Solici- 
tor,   Supreme   Court 

Sydney   Stephen,   Barris- 
ter at  Law 

Charles  Stewart 

J.  Stewart 

James  Stewart 

John  Stewart 

Robert   Stewart 

J.   Stocks 

John   Stourton 

Thomas   Street 

Thomas   Stubbs 

Peter   Stuckey 

Geo.    Skene    Sturgeon 

John    Sturgeon,    junior 

J.   Sullivan 

James    Sullivan 

James    Sullivan 

Richard  Sullivan 

Wm.  Sullivan 

John  Swan 

Patrick  Taafe 

George  Talbot 

James  Talent 

W.  Tarrinton 

G.  Tate 

Edmund  Taylor 

Luke  Taylor 

Joseph  Taylor 

Thomas   Taylor 

William   Taylor 

B.   Teeling 

James   Templeton 

Saml.   Terry 

Roger   Therry,    J.  P. 

T.  Thomas 

Alexander    Thompson 

J.    Thompson 

Jas.    Thompson 

Robert  Thompson 

Wm.   Thompson 

W.   M.  Thompson 

Samuel   Thoonbow 

Charles  Thorn 

Henry  Thorn 

J.  Thornborough 

George    Thornton 

John  Thornton 


APPENDIX    B 


369 


Wm.    Thurlow,    senior 
Dixton    Thurston 
Wm.  Thurston 
George  Tierney 
James    Tobin 
R.    Tobin 
George  Todd 
Matthew   Todd 
James  Trainer 
Patrick  Trainer 
John  Tucker,  senior 
John    Tucker,    junior 
J.   Tuller 
J.  Tunks 
Henry  Turbitt 
G.  Turner 
E.  Tutty 

Joseph  Underwood 
Thos.    J.    Underwood 
T.  W.  Unwin,  Solicitor 
John  S.  Uther 
Reuben  Uther 
Mich.   Vaughan 
Jos.  Wagdon 
Wm.   Wale 
Henry  Walker 
J.  Walker 
James  Walker 
Joseph  Walker 
T.  Walker,  J. P. 
William    Walker,    sur- 
geon 
J.  Walsh 
John  Walsh 
W.  Walsh 
Wm.   Walsh 
J.   Ward 
Robt.   Ward 
R.   Wardell,  LL.D. 
Luther   Warner,   J. P. 
Alexander  Warren 
James  Waters 


T.  Watkins 

Edward   Watson 

H.  Watson 

James  Watson 

Wm.    Weattnell 

Charles  Weavers 

Thos.   Weavers 

J.   Webber 

Jas.    P.    Webber,    J.  P. 

Jas.  Wells 

W.   Wells 

Wm.  Wells 

Charles    B.    Welson 

John   West 

M.   West 

Wm.   West 

Geo.  Wheeler 

Jas.  Lightfoot  Whita- 
ker 

Edward    White 

G.  B.  White,  Asst.  Sur- 
veyor 

J.    White 

James   White 

John   White 

John   White 

Wm.   White 

Frederick   Whitely 

H.    Whittaker 

Thomas  Theodore  Whit- 
taker 

James    Wilbow 

Jas.   Wild 

Francis  Wilde 

Thomas  Wilford 

Chas.   Wilkins 

T.  Wilkins 

Thos.   Wilkins 

W.  B.  Wilkinson 

Chas.   Williams 

Geo.   Williams 

Francis   Williams 


J.   Williams 

J.   Williams 

John  Williams 

Jos.  Williams 

Thomas  Williams 

William  Williams,  Su- 
preme Court 

J.    Williamson 

William    Williamson 

Jas.  Wilshire 

Richard   Wilshire 

Caleb    Wilson 

Charles    Wilson,    J.P. 

F.  Wilson 

J.  Wilson 

J.   T.   Wilson 

Martin  Wilson 

W.  Wilson 

T.  W.    M.   Winder 

H.  Witson 

Patrick  Wolfe 

Edward  Wollstonecraft, 
J.P. 

James   Wood,   tailor 

James  Wood 

John  Wood 

John    Wood    (Chipping) 

W.  Woodcock 

William    Wormlenton 

Chas.   Wright 

Francis  Wright 

George   Wright 

J.  Wright 

S.  Wright,  J.P. 

Wm.  Wright 

Joseph  Wyatt 

W.  Wyatt 

Jacob  Wyer 

John  Wyllie 

J.  Wyly 

Geo.    Yeomans 

Richard   Yeomans 


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APPENDIX    D. 


"The  Kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a  grain  of  mustard  seed, 
which  a  man  took  and  sowed  in  his  field.  Which  is  indeed  the  least 
of  all  seeds;  but  when  it  is  grown  up,  it  is  greater  than  all  herbs, 
and  becometh  a  tree,  so  the  birds  of  the  air  come,  and  dwell  in  the 
branches  thereof."  — St.  Matthew  xiii. 

A  century  has  just  passed  since  Father  Therry  arrived  in 
Australia.  The  mustard  seed  that  he  planted  on  the  shores  of 
the  convict  settlement  has  prospered  and  grown  into  a  sturdy 
tree.  Where  he  once  served  alone  as  pastor  of  a  Colony,  there 
are  now  an  Apostolic  Delegate,  eight  Archbishops,  twenty-one 
Bishops,  and  two  Vicars  Apostolic.  Father  Therry  peered 
into  future  years,  and  had  pictured  an  active  body  of  Bishops 
and  Priests  working  for  the  warm-hearted  people  of  Australia. 
But  in  his  most  optimistic  dreams  he  had  not  anticipated  the 
glorious  Australian  Church  of  the  twentieth  century — the 
wonder  of  the  Christian  world. 

Considerably  more  than  a  million  Catholics  are  now  in 
Australia.  They  have  inherited  the  firm  and  loyal  faith  of 
their  forefathers  in  the  Colony.  They  cherish  their  religion, 
because  they,  too,  have  fought  and  suffered  much  to  secure 
its  rights.  Besides  giving  their  share  of  support  to  the  State 
Schools — to  which  they  refuse  to  send  their  children  for  the 
same  reason  as  that  which  made  their  forefathers  fight  against 
the  Hobbes  Scott  Orphan  Schools — they  have  built  and  paid 
for  more  than  fifteen  hundred  schools,  at  which  178,000  child- 
ren attend.  This  sacrifice,  and  the  charity  that  supports  thous- 
ands of  teachers,  hospitals,  orphanages  and  other  institutions,  is 
the  best  testimony  to  the  stability  of  the  great  edifice  of  the 
Australian  Church,  built  upon  the  foundation  laid  a  century 
ago,  by  Father  Therry. 

The  marvellous  growth  of  the  "Mustard  Seed"  can  be  seen 
from  the  official  Statistics  issued  in  1921 : — 


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374  LIFE    OF    ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

The  Cathedral  of  St.  Mary's,  built  by  Father  Therry,  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  the  year  after  his  death.  Another  and  a 
grander  edifice  has  risen  from  the  ashes  of  its  parent.  Though 
no  stone  of  the  new  Cathedral  was  laid  by  Father  Therry, 
it  must  ever  remain  his  memorial.  As  the  Mother  Church  of 
Australia,  it  symbolizes  the  glorious  exit  from  the  catacombs 
of  persecution  and  sorrow,  in  which  the  faith  was  established 
and  built  up  by  the  hands  of  John  Joseph  Therry. 

"E'en  from  the  tomb  the  voice  of  nature  cries, 
E'en  in  our  ashes  live  their  wonted  fires." 


APPENDIX    E 
CHRONOLOGY 

1788 — "First  Fleet"  reaches  Botany  Bay.  Governor  Phillip 
takes  formal  possession  of  New  South  Wales  (26 
January). 

I79° — Jonn  Joseph  Therry  born  in  Cork. 

1798 — Rebellion  in  Ireland. 

1800-1 — Fathers  Dixon,  Harold,  and  O'Neil — "the  convict 
priests" — reach  N.S.W. 

1803 — Father  Dixon  conditionally  emancipated  to  enable  him 
to  exercise  his  clerical  functions ;  celebrates  first 
public  Mass  in  the  Colony  (15  May). 

1804 — Insurrection  of  convicts  at  Castle  Hill,  near  Parramatta. 
Father  Dixon  no  longer  permitted  to  celebrate  Mass. 

1810-1821 — Macquarie  Governor  of  N.S.W. 

181 5 — Father  Therry  ordained  priest. 

181 7 — Father  Jeremiah  O'Flynn  arrives  in  the  colony. 

181 8 — Father  O'Flynn  deported. 

1819 — Fathers  Therry  and  Conolly  volunteer  for  the  N.S.W. 
mission. 

1820 — They  reach  Sydney  (3  May). 

1820-1821 — Commissioner  Bigge  in  N.S.W. 

182 1 — Father  Conolly  leaves  for  Van  Diemen's  Land.  Gov- 
ernor Macquarie  lays  the  foundation  stone  of  St. 
Mary's,  Sydney  (29  October). 

1821-1825 — Brisbane  Governor  of  N.S.W. 

1 824- 1 836 — Arthur  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Van  Diemen's 
Land. 

1824 — N.S.W.  receives  a  Constitution.  First  Legislative  Coun- 
cil meets  (11  August). 

1825-1831 — Darling  Governor  of  N.S.W. 

1825 — Van  Diemen's  Land  made  a  separate  colony. 

1826 — Father  Therry  suspended  from  his  position  as  Govern- 
ment Chaplain. 

Father     Daniel     Power     arrives     at     Sydney     (25 
December). 
Clergy  and  School  Estates  Corporation  established. 

1829 — Catholic  Emancipation  Act  passed. 

Judge  Therry  arrives  in  the  colony. 

1830 — Catholic  Emancipation  adopted  in  N.S.W.  (18  January). 
Father  Power  dies  in  Sydney  (14  March). 
Bishop  Slater  of  Mauritius  dies,  and  is  succeeded  by 
Bishop  Morris. 

375 

30 


376  LIFE   OF   ARCHPRIEST    THERRY 

1831-1837 — Bourke  Governor  of  N.S.W. 
1831 — Father   C.    V.    Dowling  arrives   at    Sydney    (17   Sep- 
tember) . 
1832 — Father  McEncroe  arrives   (17  August). 
1833 — Clergy  and  School  Estates  Corporation  dissolved   (as 

from  4  February). 

Rev.  Dr.  Ullathorne  arrives  at  Sydney  (18  February). 
1835 — Bishop  Polding  arrives  (13  September). 

Father  Therry  appointed  to  Campbelltown. 
1836 — Governor  Bourke's  Church  Act  (29  July). 
1837-43 — Sir    John    Franklin    Lieutenant-Governor    of    Van 

Diemen's  Land. 
1837 — Father  Therry  reinstated  as  Government  Chaplain  (13 

April). 

Town  of  Melbourne  founded. 

Select    Committee    on    Transportation    appointed    in 

London ;  Dr.  Ullathorne  gives  evidence. 
1838-46 — Gipps  Governor  of  N.S.W. 
1838 — Father  Therry  visits  Port  Phillip  (April).    Appointed 

Vicar-General  of  Van  Diemen's  Land. 
1839 — Father  Philip  Conolly  dies  in  Hobart  (3  August). 
1840 — Abolition  of  Transportation  to  N.S.W. 
1841 — St.  Joseph's  Church,  Flobart,  opened  (25  December). 
1842 — "Representative  Government"  granted  to  N.S.W. 
1843 — First  Representative  Legislature  meets   (1  August). 
1844 — Bishop  Willson  arrives  at  Flobart  (11  May). 
1846 — Father  Therry   Parish   Priest  of   Melbourne    (August 

onwards). 
1847 — Father  Therry  leaves  Melbourne  (April)  and  returns 

to     Tasmania.     Appointed     to     Windsor,     N.S.W. 

(August). 
1848 — Father  Therry  in  Hobart  (September). 
1854 — Father    Therry    returns    to    Sydney    (February)  ;    ap- 
parently attached  to  St.  Patrick's. 
1856 — Father  Therry  appointed  to  Balmain  (May). 
1856 — Father  Therry  given  title  of  Archpriest. 
1864 — Father  Therry  dies  (25  May)  at  the  age  of  73. 
1865 — St.   Mary's  Cathedral,   Sydney,  destroyed  by  fire   (29 

June ) . 
1901 — Father    Therry's    remains    transferred    to    St.    Mary's 

Cathedral  (17  March). 
192 1 — Centenary  celebrations  at  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Sydney 

(October). 


INDEX 


Aborigines,  52,   172-3 

Adelaide,  Bishop  of ;  see  Murphy, 

Bishop 
Airds  (district),  56,  74 
Alcock,   Mr.    (of    Hobart),   238 
"Alfredton,"    283,    284 
Allman,  Francis,  jun.,  281 
Anderson,   Dr.    Matthew,    122 
"Andrewburgh,"   276 
"Andrewville,"  283,   284 
Andrews,  Dr.  Arthur,  quoted,  277 
Anglican,  see  Church  of  England 
Appin     (district),    166,    179,    186, 

190,  334 
Argus    (Melbourne),   quoted,   254 
Argyle   (district),  179,  190 
Argyle  Rooms  (now  Carlton  Club 

Hotel,   Hobart),   201 
Arney,  Major,  215,  216 
Arthur,   Governor,   194 
Athy,  Father,  269-70 
Atkinson,   James    (chief    clerk   in 

Colonial  Secretary's  office),  34, 

324 
Austral   Light,    quoted,    198,    208, 

210,  214,  215 
Australian,  The,  76,  109,  122,  187; 

quoted,  78,  80,  84 

Balmain,  260-1,  266,  267-8 
Bannister,     Saxe,     Attorney- 
General,  153 
Baptism,  Macquarie's  orders  con- 
cerning, 30 
Baptism  of  aborigines,   52 
Barber,  William  (of  Jerara),  323, 

324 

Bargo   (district),  323,  324 

Barnabo,  Cardinal,  248 

Bathnrst,  Earl,  17,  20,  41,  58,  62, 
70,  76,  83,  93,  95,  105,  168,  169, 
172,  306,  319,  327 

Bathurst  (town),  64,  125,  147,  *7h 
339,  34i 

Baxter,  Alexander,  Attorney- 
General,  133 

Benevolent  Institution,  99,  109-10, 
271 


Bennett,  William,  343 

"Berehaven,"  quoted,  99,  107 

Bergin,   Dr.,  276,  278,  281 

Berrima,  331,  344 

Berry,  Alexander,  81 

Bigge,  Commissioner,  6,  40-2,  45, 
65,  70 

Billabong  Station  (Billibong, 
Billey  bong,  Billyton,  Billy 
Bong),  277,  284,  331,  354 

Birt,  Dom,  quoted,  1,  3n,  11,  17,  19, 
24,  77,  149,  150,  161,  162,  164, 
166,  194,  195,  219,  222,  227,  241, 
242,  247,  250,  284 

Blake,    James    (of    Bong    Bong), 

323 
Bland,  Dr.,  357 
Blaxland,  Gregory,  133 
Bleaney,  Patrick,  186 
Blessed   Virgin,    Sodality   of   the, 

201,  218 
Blossom,  ship,  338 
Blount,   Edward,   M.P.   for   Stey- 

ning,  England,  128,  133,  148 
Bond,  Father  W.  P.,  234 
Bong    Bong    (district),    276,    281, 

282,  283,  323,  324 
Bonwick,  James,  quoted,  4,  39 
Booth,  Dr.    (of  the  ship  Orator), 

216 
Booth,  Charles  O'Hara,  211 
Botany  Bay,  12,  13 
Bourke,    Father,   339 
Bourke,  Sir  Richard,  133,  146,  148, 

158,    163,    166    sqq.,    1 80- 1,    208, 

276,  277,  278,  333 
Bowen,      Owen       (of      Molonglo 

Plains),  281 
Bowler,  Mr.,  352 
Bowman,  Dr.,   115-20 
Boyd,  John,  312 
Braby,  Mr.  (sic  in  text;  probably 

Captain  John  Brabyn),  313 
Bradley,  James,   114 
Brady,  Father,  218 
Bramston,  Bishop,  148,  158 
Brenan,  John  L.,  306 
Brewer,  Dr.  J.  B.,  12 


377 


378 


INDEX 


"Brighton,"  279 

Brisbane,  Sir  Thomas,  49,  56,  57, 

59,  60-1,  62,  67,  70,  84,  94,  101, 

105,  153,  274,  276,  278 
Brisbane    Meadow    (near    Maru- 

lan),  324 
Britannia   (newspaper),  242 
Broken  Bay,  279 
Brooks,  Mrs.  (of  Denham  Court), 

325 

Broughton,  Bishop,  167,  181 

Brown,  George  (of  Campbell- 
town),  323 

Bryan,  Mrs.,  337 

Buffs  Hospital,   122 

Bunbury  Curran  Creek,  38 

Burial,   Catholic — 

Campbelltown,   ground  at,  74 
Macquarie's     attitude     towards, 

30 
Melbourne,  no  ground  at,  337 
Separate  grounds  asked  for,  75 
Sydney,  ground  at,  165 

Burke,  James   (of  Airds),  74 

Burke,  Dr.   Michael,  328 

Butler,  J.  &  Son  (of  Hobart), 
240,  338 

Butler,  Father  Thomas,  199,  200, 
201,   234 

Byrne,  Andrew,  328 

Byrne,  Rev.  Austin,  269,  270 

Byrne,  Thomas,  66 

Byrnes,  Mr.  (of  Campbelltown), 
323 

Cahill,  H.  B.  (Ursuline  nun),  307- 

9 

Cahill,  Father  Thomas,  S.J.,  286 

Cambramarra,  343 

Camden   (district),  186,  190,  323 

Cameron,  Duncan,  187 

Campbell,  John  Thomas,  Provost- 
Marshal,  27,  44,  49,  81,  305 

Campbell,  Robert  ("of  the 
wharf"),  343 

Campbelltown  (and  district),  166, 
171,  178-9,  184  sqq.,  196,  275, 
322,    323,    324 

Careel  Bay,  278 

Carlow  College  (Ireland),  12,  282 

Carlton  Club  Hotel  (Hobart, 
formerly   Argyle  Rooms),  201 

Carter's  Barracks,  94,   147 

Cartwright,  Rev.  Robert,  57,  58 


Castlereagh    (district),  63 
Catholic     Almanac,     quoted,     10, 

260 
Catholic  Education  Society,  74 
Catholic     Laymen's     Defence 

Unions,  218 
Catholics      and      Catholicism      in 
Australia — 
"Convict"  Priests,  2-4 
Treatment  by  Governors  Phillip, 

Hunter  and  King,  2-3 
Mass  celebrations  in  early  days, 

3,  24,  28 
Disabilities   of,   4   sqq.,  82-4 
Forced    to    attend    Church    of 
England  services,  2,  5,  9,  63-4, 
87,  iio-ii,  214,  335-6 
Under    jurisdiction    of     Bishop 

of   Mauritius,    11 
Chaplains    Conolly    and    Therry 

appointed,   12-19 
Protestant     sympathy,     25,     27, 

40,   42,    131-3,    146-7 
Catholic    population    numerous, 
but   poor,   38,   50,   55,   73,   97, 
3io?  316 
Bigge's  Report,  41-2 
Macquarie's  good  feeling,  45-9 
Brisbane's   attitude,  60-1 
Position  contrasted  with  that  of 
Anglicans,  73,   128,   151-2,   168 
Bequests  of  property  to  Catho- 
lic   establishments    permitted, 
81 
Emancipation  Act,  127,  131,  163 
Roger  Therry's  efforts,  127  sqq. 
Bourke     sympathetic,    146,    163, 

166  sqq. 
Vicar-General   appointed,    159 
Bishop  appointed,   150,   177,   178 
Melbourne,  253-7,  337-8 
Newcastle,   317-8 
Tasmania,  193-4,  213,  310 
Official  statistics  for  1921,  373-4 
For  education,  see  Schools 
Cattai  Creek,  283 
Cavanagh,  Father  John,  255,  256, 

257,  352-3 
Cavanagh,  Lawrence,  346-7 
Cawdor     (Government     Station), 

323 
Cecilia,  ship,  334 
Centennial  Magazine,  quoted,  101 
Chain-gangs,  see  Road  Gangs 


INDEX 


379 


Chambers,  C.  H.   (solicitor),  343 
Champ,  Mr.   (of  Hobart),  215 
Chapel    House,    the,    at    Sydney, 

117,  126,  134,  137,  150,  156,  174, 

322 
Charlotte   Place,    Sydney,   23,   33, 

37 
Charter  Schools  of  Ireland,  93 
Chipp,  Samuel,  102 
Chronicle,  the,  quoted,  259 
Church  Act,  177,  181 
Church   and   School    Corporation, 

see    Clergy    and    School    Lands 

Trust 
Church  Extension  Act,  345 
Church    of    England,    57-8,    71-3, 

151,   167-8,  181 
Church  property — 

General     principles     regarding, 
138,  225,  239 

At    Hobart,     Father     Conolly's 
claims,   194-6,   199-201,  230 

At     Hobart,     dispute     re     St. 
Joseph's,  225  sqq. 

At   Parramatta,   Neilan's   claim 
to,  171-2 

Site  of  St.  Mary's,  Sydney,  see 
St.  Mary's  Cathedral 
City  of  Dublin,  ship,  306 
Clayton,  John  (of  Hobart),  348 
Clayton,  Samuel,  47 
Clergy  and   School  Lands  Trust, 

71-3,  166,  167 
Clonmel,  149 

Cobb,  John   (builder),  356 
Cockatoo  Island,  260 
Cockle  Bay,  276 
Coffee,  Furanuaha,  337 
Coffey,  Dean,  256,  355 
Colgan,  Thomas,  281 
Collins,  John,  312 
Comerford,  Dr.,  quoted,  12,  13 
Concord    (district),  259,  276 
Connolly,  Thomas,  328 
Connor,  Michael   (of  Newcastle), 

317 
Conolly,   Father   Philip — 

Appointed     to     Australian 
mission,  12,  17,  18 

Faculties   granted   to,    i8n 

Stipend  of,  17,  57,  306 

Arrival  in  Sydney,  22-3 

Chairman    of    meeting   to    raise 
funds   for  St.   Mary's,  24-7 


Conolly,  Father  Philip — continued. 
Character  of,  35,  193 
Relations    with    Father   Therry, 

35-6,  124,  159,  200,  309-10 
Letter  to  Father  Power,  124 
Tasmanian  mission,  36,  61,  178, 

193-5 

Claims   church   property,    194-5, 

199 
Suspended,  195-6 
Death,  200 

Other  references,   156,  159,  196, 
333 
Conolly,  Miss,  341 
Conolly,      Patrick      (brother      of 

Father  Conolly),  201 
"Convict"     Priests    in    Australia, 

2-4 
Convicts — 
Catholics,     chiefly    political 

offenders,  7-8,  213 
Forced     to     attend     Protestant 
services,  2,  4,  7-9,  63,  87,  110- 
1,  214-5,  336 
Life  on  board  the  Janus,  20-2 
Father  Therry's  efforts  for,  13, 
33,  39,  4i,  55,  62-4,  100-3,  125, 
134-5,     151,    201,    206,    213-6, 
274,  294 
Bishop  Willson's  efforts  for,  251 
System     criticised     by     Bishop 
Folding,  332 ;  by  L.  Cavanagh, 
346-7 
Conway,  Father,  270 
Cooke    (district),   179 
Cooper,  C.    (of  Hobart),  201 
Cooper,     Henry     (architect),    44, 

112 
Coote,  Mr.,  61 
Corcoran,   Father  V.,  339 
Cordeaux,  William,  154 
Cotham,  Father  James,   194,   195, 

197,  201,  216,  234 
Cotter,  James,  190 
Court   House    (later   Girls'    High 
School),  Sydney,  24,  25,  27,  28, 
41,  66,  08,  no,  112,  113,  124,  141, 
143,  322,  323,  324 
Cowpastures    (district),   56 
Cowper,  Rev.  William,  57,  58 
Cox,  William,  313 
Coyne,  Mr.,  310 
Crisp,  Mr.  (of  Hobart),  240 
Crone,  Father,  269-70 


380 


INDEX 


Cross,  Rev.  John    (of  Windsor), 

57,  89 
Cullen,  Father  J.  EL,  quoted,  198, 

214 
Cunningham,      C.      (manager     of 

Billabong  Station),  331 
Cupin,  Dr.   (of  Melbourne),  191 
Curley,  Father,  269,  270 
Cusack,  William,  312 

Dalley,  John    (father  of  William 

Bede  Dalley),  259,  347 
Dalton,  Father  Joseph,  S.J.,  278-9, 

286 
Dalton,  Mr.,  355 
Darling,  Sir  Ralph,  66,  69,  89-90, 

107,    112,    121,    132-3,    146,    150, 

153,  172,  277,  327 
Darling,  Lady,  69 
"David's  Vale,"  276 
Davis,  Bishop,  242-4 
Davis,  George   (of  Yass),  323 
Davis,  Mrs.  Catherine,  49 
Davis,  William    (of  Sydney),  23, 

27,  37,  42,  49,  50,  328 
Dempsey,    James,    23,    27,   38,    96, 

328 
Denison,  Sir  William,  264 
Derwent  Bank,  Tasmania,  350 
Devonshire  Street  Cemetery,  131, 

271 
Dillon,  Chevalier,  324-5 
Dillon,  Luke,  324 
Divorce,  266 

Dixon,   Father  James,  viii-ix,  2-4 
Dobson,  John   (of  Hobart,  solici- 
tor), 348 
Donoughmore,  Lord,  9 
Donovan,  James  T.,  quoted,  272 
Donovan,    John    (of    Richmond), 

126 
Donovan,  T.,   i45n 
Douglas,  Henry  Grattan,  354 
Douglass,  Dr.  H.  G.,  306 
Dowling,  Father  Christopher  Vin- 
cent— 

Appointed  official  chaplain,   135, 
148 

xArrival  in   Sydney,   149 

Difficulties  with  Father  Therry, 
135  sqq. 

At  Newcastle,   150 

At  Windsor,  171 


Doyle,    Dr.,     Bishop    of    Kildare 

and  Leighlin,  13,  15 
Doyle,    Andrew     (of    Windsor), 

313 
Drennan,       Frederick        (Deputy 

Commisssary  General),  49 
Druitt,  Major  George,  49,  322 
Duggan,     Mr.     (of    the     Normal 

Institution),  330 
Dumaresq,  Captain  W.,  112 
Dunkley,  David  (of  Hobart),  240 
Dunne,  Father  William  J.,  234 
Dwyer,  Mrs.,  353 
Dwyer,  Bridget,  125 
Dwyer,  Father  John,  269,  270 

Education,  see  Schools 

Egan,  Mr.,  340 

Elliston,  William  Gore,  349-50 

Elyard,  Mr.    (surveyor),  279 

Emu  Plains,  in,  113 

England,  Bishop,  9,  149,  308 

Erskine,    Lieut-Governor    James, 

49 
Ewing,    Rev.    Mr.    (of    Hobart), 
210 

Fag  an,  Peter  (of  Brisbane 
Water),  126 

Fairless,  Bridget,  312 

Father  Mathew  Society,  255,  257 

Field,  Mr.  Justice  Barron,  49 

Fieldhouse,  George  (of  Airds), 
186 

Finn's  Chronicles  of  Early  Mel- 
bourne, quoted,  256 

First  Mass  celebrated  in  Aus- 
tralia, 3 

Fitzgerald,  Richard  (of  Wind- 
sor), 113,  126 

Fitzpatrick,   Rev.   Paul,  269,  270 

Forbes,  Sir  Francis,  131 

Forde,  Father,  269,  270 

Forrest,  Dr.,  269,  270 

Forster,  Captain  (police  magis- 
trate at  Hobart),  214,  346 

Franklin,  Sir  John,  202,  206,  342 

Franzoni,   Cardinal,  351 

Freeman's  Journal,  expenses  of, 
355 ;  quoted,  44,  260,  269,  272 

Fulton,  Rev.  Henry,  57-8,  in, 
281 

Gallagher,  330 


INDEX 


381 


Galvin,    Thomas     (of     Campbell- 
town),  56,  323 
Garnett,  Father,  355 
Garrigan,  Patrick   (of  Windsor), 

113,  313 
Garvey,  Father  J.  J.,  269,  270 
Geelong,  353 
Geoghegan,  Father  Patrick  Bona- 

venture,  191,  240,  253,  256,  352 
George's  River,  277,  283 
"Georgeton,"  283 
Gipps,   Sir  George,   196,  208,  276, 

337 
Girls'    High    School,    Sydney,    28 

(see  also   Court   House) 
Gleaner,  The,  quoted,  316 
Glenorchy    (Tas.),   349 
Glenelg,  Viscount,   180,  339 
Goderich,  Viscount,  91 
Goold,  Archbishop  J.  A.,  191,  249, 

334 

Goolding,  Mr.,  329 

Gordon,  Mrs.  Ann,  122 

Goulburn  (town),  56,  no,  171, 
255,  260,  323,  324,  329,  339,  341 

Goulburn,  Major  Frederick, 
(Colonial  Secretary),  45,  49,  58, 
83,  94,  306-7 

Goulburn,  Henry  (Under-Secre- 
tary for  the  Colonies),  18 

Green,   Catherine,  322 

Green,  James,   344 

Greenway,   F.   H.    (architect),   44 

Gregory,  Abbot  Henry,  255,  262, 
284,  333,  334,  351-2,  353 

Hackett,  James   (of  Hobart),  333 

Hall,  E.  S.  (editor  of  the  Moni- 
tor), 90,  332 

Hall,  Father  William,  Vicar- 
General  of  Tasmania,  224,  229, 
233,  234,  237 

Hallinan,  Dean,  281,  283,  284 

Halloran,  Lawrence,  316,  319-20, 
326 

Harold,  Father  James,  3 

Haslem's  Creek,  277 

Hawkesbury  district,  3,  339 

Hayes,  Michael,  27 

Hayes,  William  (of  South  Creek), 
322 

Healy,     Henry     (of     Goulburn), 

323-4 
Hennessy,  Catherine,   114 


Heptonstall,    Father,    T.    P.,   227, 

241 
Higgans,  John,  102 
Higgins,  Andrew   (schoolmaster), 

66,  328 
Higgins,  Thomas,  328 
Hill,  Revd.  Richard,  57 
Hindoo,  ship,  339 
Hobart    (Hobart    Town,    Hobar- 

ton),    Catholic    mission    in,    193 

sqq.,  333-4,  339-40 
Hogan,  Maria,  283 
Hogan,  Patrick  Joseph,  junr.,  283 
Hogan,  Patrick  Joseph,  senr.,  283 
Holden,  G.  K.    (private  secretary 

to   Governor   Bourke),   172,   183 
Hone,  Joseph  (of  Hobart),  349 
Hume,  F.  K.  (of  Woolowardalla), 

323,  324 
Hume,  Joseph   (M.P.),   148 
Hunt,   Charles,  315-16 
Hunter,  Governor,  2 
Hunter  River,   171,  279 
Hyde  Park  Chapel  School,  66,  67- 

68,  80,  143 
Hymns      composed      by      Father 

Therry,  290-1 

Illawarra  district,  179,  190 
Insley,    Mr.     (of    Hobart),    225, 

238n,  240 
Irish  rebellion  of  1798,  vii-viii,  7-8 

Jamison,  Sir  John,  49,  133,  139 
Janus,  ship,  20-22,  305 
Jenkins,  Robert,  26 
Jesus,    Society    of     (Jesuits),    xi, 

218,  280,  282,  285,  286,  360 
Jones,  Thomas,  344 
Josephian      Confraternity,      186-7, 

201 
Josephian  School,  68 
"Josephton,"  279,  283,  284 
Jupiter,  ship,  310 

Kavanagh,  Father,  see  Cavanagh 
Keating,    Father,   270 
Keily,  Mr.   (of  Yass  Plains),  323 
Kelly,  Archbishop  M.,  46 
Letter  of  Commendation  from, 
vii-x 
Kelly,  Hugh    (innkeeper),   126 
Kelly,  Father  William,  S.J.,  286 
Kelly,  William    (warder),  311 


182 


INDEX 


Kelsh,  Father,  194,  203,  252 

Kenny,  Dean,  35,  47,  98,  146,  159, 
168,  178,  180,  193,  195,  256 

Kenny,  Father  Peter,  SJ.,  286 

Kenny,  P.  (of  Lake  George),  187, 
324 

Kenny,  Mrs.  (of  Airds),  56 

King,  Governor,  2 

Kirk,  Mr.  (of  Back  Row),  37,  306 

Kirk,  Patrick,  277 

Kirk,  Thomas  (of  Richmond, 
son  of   Patrick),  281 

Kitchen,  Mr.    (architect),  44 

Klinkowstroem,  Father  Maxi- 
milian, S.J.,  286 

Kranewitter,  Father  Aloysius, 
SJ.,286 

Kurrajong  (Currijong)  district, 
34i 

Lake  George,  324 
Lang,  Rev.  Dr.,  57 
Lanigan,  Father,  270 
Launceston  (Tasmania),  192,  194, 

I95>  196,  202,  213,  216,  227,  341 
"Laurenceton,"  283,  284 
Leahy,    Richard     (schoolmaster), 

261 
Leary,    John     (of    the    Currency 

Lad),  328 
Lee,  David,  186 
Lentaigne,   Father,   SJ.,  286 
Leslie,  Shane,  quoted,  160 
Levermore,    Father  James,   234 
Lidcombe,  277 
Liverpool  (and  district),  37,  38,41, 

56,  62,  92,  166,  185,  190,  322,  324 
Lockett,  Joseph,  102 
Long,   Mr.    (of  Parramatta),   126 
Lonsdale,   Captain,   Administrator 

of  Port  Phillip,  191 
Lord,  Simeon,  313 
Lorymer,  Father,   12 
Louis,  Saint,  King  of  France,  233 
Lovat,  Father  C.,  334,  339 
Lovatt,  Mr.    (schoolmaster),  261 

M'Alroy,   Father,  270 

Mc Arthur,  Mr.,   131 

McArthur,    Revd.     (of    Hobart), 

310 
McCabe,  Mr.    (of  Sydney),  126 
M'Carthy,    Father,    269-70 
McCernan,  John,  63 


McEncroe,  Archdeacon — 

Appointed    to    Australian    mis- 
sion, 148 

Early  career,  149 

Arrival  in  Sydney,  149 

Work  in  Australia,  150,  171 

Character  of,   159,  250 

Relations   with   Father    Therry, 
149,  251,  259,  268-9 

Panegyric    on    Father    Therry, 
270 

Executor    of    Father    Therry's 
will,  281,  282 

Monument  to,  271 

Other   references,   42,    147,    150, 
159,    165,    180,    195,    226,   228, 
229,  241,  250,  260,  268-9,  270, 
355 
M'Girr,  Father,  270 
McGuanne,  J.  P.,  quoted,  42,  I45n 
Mackay,  Capt.,  310 
Mackenzie,  A.  K.,  81 
Mackle,  Francis,  254 
Macleay,      Alexander      (Colonial 

Secretary),  118,  120,  154,  156 
Macleay,  Mrs.,  69 
Macquarie,    Lachlan,    5-6,    20,   25, 

28-32,  36,  41,  46-9,  57,  88-9,  91, 

274  289,  295,  307 
Maguire,  Thomas,  272 
Mahony,  Ellen,  310-11 
Mahoney,  Florence,  343-4 
Maitland   (district),  125,  147,  166, 

174,  320 
Manning,  James,  343~4 
Manton,  John   (of  Yass  Plains), 

323 
Maori  War,  i860,  266-7 
Maria  Island,  214 
Marriage  regulations,  29,  33-4,  52- 

3,  87-9,  91,  103-4,  H4,  266,  314- 

15,  325,  338 
Marsden,  Rev.  Samuel,  57,  58,  313 
Mary   Ann,   ship,  209 
"Maryborough"     or     "Maryville," 

259 
Mathew,   Father  Theobald,   Tem- 
perance advocate,  247,  255,  279 
Mauritius,  See  of,  11,  16,  158 
Maynooth,  341 

Meehan,  James,  Deputy  Surveyor- 
General,  3,  27,  42,  50,  152 


INDEX 


383 


Melbourne    (parish  of) — 
Catholic  population  in,  253,  255- 

6,  337-8 
Father  Cavanagh  at,  255,  256 
Father  Geoghegan  at,  191,  253, 

256 
Father  Therry  at,  192-3,  253-8 

Menangle   (district),  179,  190,  329 

Middleton,  Revd.  G.  A.,  57 

Mitcham,  Mr.,  313 

Mitchell,  Dr.  James  (Assistant- 
Surgeon,  Sydney  Hospital), 
119 

Mitchell,  Mr.   (of  Bungonia),  324 

Mitchell,  Sir  T.  L.  (Surveyor- 
General),  147 

Mixed  Marriages,  see  Marriage 
regulations 

Molonglo   Plains,   281 

Monitor,  the,  90,  122,  332 

Montagu,  John  (Colonial  Secre- 
tary of  Tasmania),  209 

Moore,  J.,  354 

Moore,  Patrick,  27,  324 

Moore,  S.   (magistrate),  147 

Moran,  Cardinal,  his  History 
quoted  or  referred  to,  9Sn,  99n, 
io6n,  149,  I55n,  173,  206,  209, 
212,  250 

Moran,  James,  312 

Moreton  Bay,  151,  321 

Morris,  Bishop,  140,  158,  161,  162, 
164 

Moses,  John,  202 

Mowatt,  Captain  (of  the  Janus), 
20-2 

Mudie's  Felonry   of  N.S.W.,  33? 

Mullins,  Eliza,  282 

Mullins,   James,  282 

Murphy,  Dr.,  Bishop  of  Cork,  13, 
16,  309 

Murphy,  Dr.  Francis,  Bishop  of 
Adelaide,  226,  248-9 

Murphy,  Dr.,  260,  334 

Murphy,  D.,  354 

Murphy,  James,  102 

Murphy,  Miss,  355 

Murphy,  Father  Roger,  106 

Murphy,  Roger,  165,  328 

Murray,  Capt,  347 

Murray,  Dr.,  Archbishop  of  Dub- 
lin,  150 

Murray,  Sir  George  (Secretary 
for  the  Colonies,   1828-30),  130 


Narellan  (district),  179 
Narrabeen  Lagoon,  278 
Nash,  Andrew    (of   Parramatta), 

127 
Nash,  Susannah,  275 
Neilan,  Mr.  (of  Parramatta),  171 
Newcastle,  317-18 
Newman,   Cardinal,  262 
Newman,  Charles,  202 
Norfolk   Island,  2,    101,   223,   235, 

280,   330,  346-7 
Normal   Institution,  330 
Nowlan,  Mary,  126 

O'Brien,  Daniel,  114 
O'Brien,    Esther    (of     Campbell- 
town),  203 
O'Brien,   Henry    (of   Yass),    196, 

323 
O'Connell,  Dean,  269,  270 
O'Connell,  Daniel,  182,  299 
O'Connor,  J.  G.,  144,  i45n 
O'Connor,  Roderick  (of  Hobart), 

235 
O'Flynn,  Very  Rev.  Jeremiah,  ix, 

5,  7,  9,  13,  15,  24,  49 
O'Keeffe,  Thomas,  328 
O'Neil,  Father  Peter,  3 
Orange  Society,  253 
Orator,  ship,  215 
Orphan    Schools,    barred    against 

Catholic   chaplain,   31,  65-6,  72, 

74-5,    83,    88-89,    90,    92-5,    in, 

147,   206-11,   319-n,   335-6    (see 

also  Schools) 
O'Shannassy,  Sir  John,  267 
O'Sullivan,  John,  69,  97,  133,  196, 

204,  259,  278,  281,  283,  284,  285, 

287,   328,   329,   338-40,   342,   343, 

347,  350-1,  352,  359-6o 
O'Sullivan,  Mrs.   (wife  of  John), 

255,  333,  340,  35i,  353,  358 
Oxley,  John    (Surveyor-General), 

49,  172 

Pacific  Islands,  217-18 

Parramatta  (and  district),  3,  28, 
37,  38,  41,  56,  61,  62,  65,  66,  67, 
92,  no,  113,  124,  125,  126,  127, 
166,  171,  260,  322,  324,  341 

Parsons,  Mr.   (of  Hobart),  338 

Penny,  Austin   (of  Hobart),  348 

Penrith,  341 


384 


INDEX 


Petit-Jean,  Fr.  Jean  Baptist,  217- 

18 
Petitta,     Peter      (of     Pittwater), 

281 
Phillip,  Governor,  2 
Phillips,   Henry,   209 
Phipps,  Henry,  325 
Piper,    Captain   John,   23,   26,   49, 

81 
Pitcairn,      Robert      (of      Hobart, 

solicitor),  236,  237 
Pittwater  (district),  278,  279,  281, 

283 
Piatt,     William      (of     Hobart, 

printer),   218 
Plunkett,  John  Hubert  (Solicitor- 
General),  130,  147,  149,  150  157, 
165,  280,  283,  284,  328,  332,  370 
Polding,  Most  Rev.  John  Bede — 
Appointed  first  Bishop  of  New 
Holland    and    Van    Diemen's 
Land,  178 
Arrival  in  Sydney,  178 
Attitude      towards      Father 
Therry — 
Opinion  of  his  character,  173, 

230-1 
Friendship   for,  178-80 
Sends   him   to   Campbelltown, 

178 
Attempts   to   secure   his   rein- 
statement,  182-3 
Sends     him     to     Melbourne, 

191,  253,  330 
Sends  him  to  Tasmania,  196-9 
Mediates  between  Bishop 
Willson  and  Father  Therry, 
226-31,  242,  247 
Raises  him  to  Archpriest,  262 
Criticism  of  his  will,  279,  284 
Letters     to    and    from,    204-5, 

220,  226-7,  333,  340,  355 
Memorial  in  favour  of  Father 
Therry,  325 
Character    exemplified    in    pas- 
toral letter,  188 
Visits     Hobart,     178,     193,    226 

sqq. 
Attempts  to  arbitrate  between 
Father  Conolly  and  his 
parishioners,  194-6 
Recommendations  for  appoint- 
ment to  Bishopric  of  Hobart, 
219 


Polding,    Most   Rev. — continued. 

Consecrates  Bishop  Willson, 
222 

Breach  with  Bishop  Willson, 
228-231 

Letters  to  J.  O'Sullivan,  332-3, 
338-40 

Bishop     Willson's     opinion    of, 
241 
Pompallier,  Bishop,  267 
Port  Arthur,  201,  213 
Port    Phillip,    191,   352     {see   also 

Melbourne) 
Port  Phillip  Herald,  quoted,  253, 

257 
Powell,  Father,  270 
Power,   Father   Daniel — 

Appointed  to  Australian  mis- 
sion, 106 

Faculties  granted  to,   106-7 

Character,    106-9 

Stipend,  no,  113 

Relations  with  Father  Therry, 
107-10,  120-3,  140,  143,  144-5, 
156 

Directed  to  reside  in  Sydney, 
no,  124,   126 

Attitude  towards  St.  Mary's, 
43-4,  112,   140,  153-7 

Death,  130 

Grave,   131,  271 

Letters   from,   109,   122-3,  320 

Other  references,   117,  120,   121, 
125,  172,  318 
Poynter,     Bishop,     87,     9511,     105, 

309,  319 
Prayer-book,  plan  for,  by  Father 

Therry,  218 
Prendergast,   Patrick,   186 
Presbyterians,    4,    56,    57,    151-2, 

167-8,  310 
Price,    John    (of    Hobart,    magis- 
trate), 335 
"Priest's   Flat"    (Pittwater),  278 
Pritchard,       Mr.       (of      Hobart, 

solicitor),  240 
Proberty,  K.,  358-9 
Protestant    aid    to    Catholics,    25, 

26,  27,  40,  42,  44,  49,  78-9,  84-6, 

131-3,  206,  271,  310,  319,  326 
Protestantism,    conversions    from, 

102-3,  311-12 
Pugin,    Augustus    Welby    (archi- 
tect), 220 


INDEX 


385 


Quadrant    Flats    (Lake    George), 

324 
Queanbeyan,  260 

Ready,  John,  45 

Red   Bank   Creek    (near  Picton), 

329 
Reddall,      Luke      (of      Goulburn 

Plains),  323 
Reddall,  Revd.  Thomas,  57,  184-5 
Reddington,   John    (of    Pitt    St.), 

24,  28 
Redmond,  Edmond,  328 
Redmond,    Edward     (of    George 

St.),  27 
Regan,    John    (of    Hobart),    225, 

236,   238,   245,   35i 
Reynolds,   William,   328 
Richmond   (district),  126,  258 
Rigney,  Dean,  270 
Riverview  College,  285,  286 
Road-gangs,  55,  63,  100,  214,  315 
Rocks,  The,  37 

Rowe,  Mr.   (of  Hobart),  333 
Russell,  Lord  John,  208 
Ryan,  Major,  198 
Ryan,  Michael,  331 

Sacred  Heart  Society,  201,  218 

St.  Aloysius'  College,  285 

St.   Anne's   Church,    Enfield,   259- 

60,  281-2,  284,   356 
St.  Augustine's  Church,  Balmain, 

260-1,  267-8,  269 
St.    Francis'    Church,    Melbourne, 

253,  256 
St.  John's  Church,  Campbelltown, 

185-6,   188,  262 
"St.    Joseph    at    Liberty    Plains" 

(township),  277 
St.  Joseph's  Chapel,  Sydney,  127, 

139,  140-5,  162,  322,  323 
St.  Joseph's  Church,  Hobart,  202- 

3,  220,  225  sqq  ,  280,  344-6 
St.   Mary   and    St.   Joseph,    Guild 

of,  268,  269 
St.     Mary's     Cathedral,     Hobart, 

200,  202,  225,  234 
St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Sydney — 

First  steps  taken  to  build,  24-7 

Site  of,  42-3,   142,   152-7,  164-6, 
370 

Plans,  43-4 


St.    Mary's    Cathedral — continued. 
Foundation  stone  laid  by  Mac- 

quarie,  45-9,   307 
Contributions  to,  45,  49 
Dimensions    criticized,    50,    105, 

113 
Government   assistance,   50,   59- 

60,  97-8,  m-13,   134,  151,  354, 
Efforts  to  complete,  m-13,  l34> 

151 
Financial     difficulties,    146,    151, 

162-3,    170,   173-5 
Father  Therry's  gifts  to,  262-3, 

340 
Memorial  to  Father  Therry  in, 

272 
Burnt  in   1865,  374 
Altar,  341 
Bells,  220 

Cross  from  front  gable,  358 
Organ,  340 
Portico,  340 
Tabernacle,  340-1 
Tower,  220,  340 
St.  Mary's  Seminary,  144,  199 
St.    Michael's    Cave    (Pittwater), 

279 
St.  Patrick's  Church,  Sydney,  260 
St.   Patrick's   College,   Manly,   143 
St.       Patrick's       Society       (Mel- 
bourne),  254 
St.  Philip's  Church,  Sydney,  42 
St.    Vincent's     Convent,    Sydney, 

292 
Schools  and  Education — 
Anglican  Schools,  72,   168,   181 
Catholic    Schools,    52,    65-8,    69, 
74,  79,  81-2,  99,  125,  139,   147, 
150,    166,    168,    195,    208,    210, 
211-13,  258,  261 
Catholic  Education  Society,  74- 

5 
Normal  Institution,  330 
Orphan  Schools,  31,  65-6,  72,  73- 

5,  83-4,  89,  90,  92-4,  95n,  in, 

206-9,  210-11,  335 
Scott,       Archdeacon       Thomas 
Hobbes,  66,  70,  74,  76,  82-3,  84, 

87,  95",  319 
Selkirk,  H.,   I45n,   i65n 
Serra,   Bishop,  247 
Seven   Hills    (district),   126 
Shamrock,  ship,  352 
Sheehan,  John,  344 


386 


INDEX 


Sheehan,  Roger,  340 

Sheehy,  Very  Rev.  S.  A.,  269,  270 

Sheridan,  Father,  269-70 

Short,  Martin,  27 

Sisters  of  Charity,  341 

Slater,  Bishop — 
Appointed   Vicar-Apostolic,    11 
Territory      under      his      juris- 
diction,  11 
Sends      Fathers      Therry      and 
Conolly  to  New  Holland,  12- 

Correspondence      with      Father 
Therry,  14-19,  51-3,  61-2,  137-9 

Mediates        between        Fathers 
Therry  and  Dowling,  137-9 

Other  references,  1,  156,  i58n 
Smith,  Isaac,  312 
Sorell,       William        (Lieutenant- 
Governor     of     Van     Diemen's 

Land),  36,  310 
South  Creek,  113,  322 
Spode,  Josiah  (Superintendent  of 

the    Convict    Department,    Ho- 

bart),  335 
Spruson,  Joseph,  358 
Spurzheim,     Johann     Caspar 

(phrenologist),  223 
Stanfield,  Ellen,  282 
Stanley,  Lord   (Secretary  for  the 

Colonies),    133,    148,    158,    i67n, 

345 
Stephen    and    Stephen,    solicitors, 

35? 
Stirling,  Lieutenant  Robert,    153 
Sunderland,  George,  2Tj 
Swanston,     Captain      Charles 

(manager    of    Derwent    Bank, 

Hobart),  236-7,  348 
Sweeney,    Daniel      (of     Pennant 

Hills),  343 
Sydney  Hospital,  28,  56,  100 
Sydney  Gazette,  22,  24,  25,  47,  48, 

49,  74,  109,  112,  151,  169-70,  320 
Sydney  Morning  Herald,  quoted, 

264-5 

Tasker,  John,  186 

Tasmanian   Mission,  36,   178,    193 

sqq.,    333-4     (see    also    Hobart 

and  Launceston) 
Taylor,    John     (of    Parramatta), 

283,  284 
Terry,  Samuel,  63 


Therry,  Archpriest  John  Joseph — 
Character  of,  10,  13,  39,  51,  53, 
10/,  133,  254,  326,  and  ch.  xix 
By  "Berehaven,"  99-100 
Brisbane,  Governor,  56 
Darling,  Governor,  90 
Davis,  Bishop,  243 
Halloran,  L.,  326 
Kenny,  Dean,  98-9 
Polding,     Archbishop,     173, 

191,  230-1 
Therry,  Roger,  147 
Ullathorne,  Archbishop, 

161-2,   171,   173,  287-8 
Willson,   Bishop,  241 
Early  years,   12,  13,  15 
Appointed    to    Australian    Mis- 
sion, 14-17 
Faculties  and  instructions,  18-20 
Voyage  in  ship  Janus,  20-2,  305 
Arrival  in  Sydney,  22-3 
Official   Chaplaincy — 
Appointment,  17 
Dismissal,   76,  96,  327 
Reinstatement  urged,  133,  147, 

168-71,   361-9 
Reinstatement  secured,   184 
Stipends,  17,  38,  57-8,  76,  95-6, 
170-1,     179,     180,     184,     198, 
261,   306-7,  337,   354 
First  efforts  to  build  a  church, 
24-7 ;  secures  site,  42 ;  designs 
St.    Mary's,   43    (see   also    St. 
Mary's) 
Macqnarie's   instructions,   28-35, 

88,  90-1,  163 
Protests  against  Marriage  laws, 
33-4,  87-8,  91,  103-4,  114,  266, 
314-5 
Mission  work,  nature  of,  36-9, 
55-6,  61-2,  101-2,  151,  171,  175- 
6,  323-4 
Parramatta  ministrations,  28,  37, 

38,  61-2,  66-7,  92,  99,  1 13-4, 
124,   125-6,   127,   171,  260,  322, 

323,  324 
Convicts,  work  amongst,  13,  33, 

39,  41,  55,  62-4,  100-3,  125, 
134-5,  151,  201,  206,  213-6,  274, 
294  (see  also  Correspondence 
with  warders  and  convicts) 

Discouraged  and  suggests 
resignation,  51,  53-4,  136-7, 
140,  203-4 


INDEX 


387 


Therry,    Archpriest — continued. 
Hospitals,    efforts    to    gain    ad- 
mission   to,    ioo,    1 15-9,    120, 
134      (see      also      Orphan 
Schools) 
Aborigines,   interest  in,    172-3 
Maoris,  interest  in,  266-7 
In     charge     of     Campbelltown,  . 

178-9,  184-7,  190 
In  Melbourne,  191-2,  253-8 
In  Tasmania,   193,   196-252 
Dispute     over     Church     debt, 

225  sqq. 
Suspended,  231 
At  Windsor,  258 
Attached  to  St.  Patrick's,  Syd- 
ney, 260 
Work  in  Balmain,  260-1,  267-8 
Archpriest,  262 
Bequests  to,  162,  274,  343 
Death  and  funeral,  268-71,  358-9 
Monument,  271 
Memorial,  272-3 
Wills  of,  279-85,  359 
Correspondence    (personal) 
With   Barnabo,   Cardinal,  248 
Bigge,    Commissioner,   40-1 
Bland,   Dr.,  357 
Butler  &  Son,  338 
Cahill,  M.  B.,  307 
Cavanagh,  L.,  346 
Cobb,  John,  356 
Coffee,  R,  ^37 
Connor,  M.,  317 
Conolly,  Father,  309 
Dillon,   Chevalier,  324 
Doyle,  A.,  313 
Hall,   Father,  237 
Halloran,  L.,  319 
Holden,   G.  K„   172 
Macquarie,     Governor,     28- 

32,  46,  49,  307 
McEncroe,  Archdeacon,  231, 

355 
Mahony,  E.,  310 
Mathew,  Fathef,  247 
O'Keeffe,  T.,  328 
O'Sullivan,  J.,  196,  329,  330, 
336,  341,  347,  350,  351,  352 
Penny,  Austin,  348 
Polding,    Archbishop,     188, 
190,      198-9,     204-5,     220, 
226-7,  333,  340,  355 


Therry,    Archpriest — continued. 
Correspondence   (personal) 
Poynter,  Dr.,  319 
Slater,  Bishop,  14-16,  19,  51- 

3,  61-2,  67,  87,  137-9 
Spruson,  J.,  358 
Therry,  Roger,   129-30 
Ullathorne,  Archbishop,  164, 

174,  180 
Warders  and  Convicts,  102- 

3,  306,  311-12,  315-16 
Willson,      Bishop,      235-40, 

241,  242,  249,  250 
Wollstonecraft,  E.,   131 
Diary,  quoted,  24,  27,  56,  113-4, 

126-7,  186-7,  201,  322-4,  351 
Hymns   composed   by,   290-1 
Industrial    enterprises,    27$    sqq. 
Land  owned  by,   137,  274-5 
At  Billabong,  277-8,  281,  284 
Bong    Bong,   276,   281,  282, 

283 
Campbelltown,  275 
Cattai  Creek,  281,  283 
Concord       (Enfield),      173, 

259-60,  276,  281,  284 
David's  Vale,  276,  283 
George's  River,  276,  283 
Granville,  276 
Lidcombe,  277 
Middle  Harbour,  276 
Pittwater,  278-9,  283,  284 
Sydney,  275-6 
Relations  with — 
Arney,  Major,  215-6 
Bowman,    Dr.,    115-20 
Conolly,     Father,     35-6,     124, 

159,  200,  309-10 
Dowling,   Father,   135-7 
Jesuit     Fathers,     217-8,     2§o, 
281,   282,  284,   285,   286,   360 
McEncroe,    Archdeacon,    149, 

251,  259,  268-9 
Murphy,    Bishop,    13,    16 
Petit-Jean,   Father,   217-8 
Polding.     Archbishop,     178-9, 
180,  182-3,  196,  198-9,  204-5, 
226-31     (see     also     Corres- 
pondence) 
Power,   Father,    107-10,    120-3, 

140,  143,  144-5,   156 
Scott,  Archdeacon,  70,  74,  76, 
82-3,  84,  87,  94,  95n 


388 


INDEX 


Therry,    Archpriest — continued. 
Slater,     Bishop,     14-19,    51-3, 

61-2,    137-9 
Therry,  Judge,   128-30,   132-4 
Ullathorne,    Archbishop,    159- 
64,     198,     219,     222,     287-8, 
322-3 
Willson,  Bishop,  223-49 
Therry,    Mrs.     (wife    of    Sir    R. 

Therry),  128,  129,  130 
Therry,   Mrs.    (mother  of   Father 

Therry),  121,  184,  329 
Therry,  James  (brother  of  Father 

Therry),  12,  282,  283,  285 
Therry    James     (of    Waterford), 

283,  284 
Therry,     Jane     Ann      (sister     of 
Father    Therry),    12,    182,    282, 
283,  285,  348,  359 
Therry,  Judge  Roger — 
Posts  held  by,  127 
Work    on    behalf    of     English 

and  Irish  Catholics,   127 
Arrives  in  Sydney,  127 
Work  on  behalf  of  Australian 

Catholics,    128 
Relations    with    Father    Therry, 

128-30,  132-4 
Advocates     completion     of     St. 

Mary's,  133,  146-7 
Advocates       reinstatement       of 

Father  Therry,  182 
Executor    of    Father    Therry's 

will,  280,  282 
Other  references,   ix,   5,  7,    128, 
136,    137,    139,     148,    149,    163, 
165,  182,  323,  337,  343,  354 
Therry,      Stephen      (brother      of 

Father  Therry),  282,  283,  285 
Thomson,  Edward  Deas  (Colonial 

Secretary),  354 
Toole,  John,  102,  311,  312 
Trainer,  Bernard,  214 
Troy,    Archbishop     (of    Dublin), 
13 

Ullathorne,   Archbishop    (of   Bir- 
mingham)— 
Reply  to  Judge  Burton  quoted, 

66,   73,  96 
Autobiography  quoted,  158,  161, 
185,  219,  223 


Ullathorne,  Archbishop — contd. 

Volunteers  for  Australian  Mis- 
sion, 158 

Appointed  Vicar-General  for 
Australia,  159 

Stipend  of,  159 

Arrival  in  Sydney,  159 

Character   of,    160,    164 

First  meets  Father  Therry,  159- 
60,  322-3 

Correspondence  with  Father 
Therry,  159-64,  198,  219,  222, 
287-8,  322-3 

Tasmania,  visits  to  and  reports 
on,   159,   193-4,   195 

Report  to  Propaganda  quoted, 
166-7 

Declines  bishopric  of  Hobart, 
219 

Returns  to  Europe,  195,  219 

Doctorate  conferred  on,  2i9n 

Views  on — 

St.  Joseph's  Chapel,   140-3 
St.  Mary's,   162-3,   173-5 
Father     Therry,     152,     160-4, 

171,  198,  223,  287-8 
Bishop  Willson,  222-3 

Other  references,  1,  17,  24n, 
43n,  70,  73,  195,  230,  332, 
333,  370 

Van  Diemen's  Land,  see  Tas- 
mania 

Vardy,  John  (of  Menangle),  283, 
285,  329,  360 

Vaughan,  Archbishop,  272 

Velocity,  schooner,  351 

Wall,  John,  103 

Walsh,    Rev.    R.    (of    Goulburn), 

281 
Walshe,  Rev.  Father,  257 
Ward,    Mr.    (of   Airds),   56 
Wardell,  Dr.  R.,  78,  133 
Warnill,     Catherine     (of     Cork), 

308  . 

Watkins,  Father  James,   196,  197, 

198,  333-4,  337,  339 
Watson,  Father  M.  J.,  S.J.,  286 
Watson,    Dr.    Frederick,    quoted, 

28,  56 
Weingarth,  John,  66,  I45n 
Wentworth,   D'Arcy,  49 


INDEX 


389 


Wentworth,  William  Charles,  78, 

98 
Williams,  Mrs.,  56 
Williams,  Francis   (cashier  of  the 

Bank  of  N.S.W.),  26 
Williamson,   P.,  201 
Williamstown,  256 
Wills,    Mr.    (of    George    Street), 

103 
Willson,    Bishop — 

Appointed    to    See    of    Hobart, 
219-20 

Consecrated,  220,  222 

Character    of,    220,    222-3,    228, 

251 
Arrival  in  Hobart,  211,  218,  224 
Disputes    with    Father    Therry, 

223-49,  250-1,  258,  351 
Visits  Sydney,  226 
Breaks   with  Archbishop   Pold- 

ing,  228-31 
Visits   Norfolk   Island,  235 
Recalled  to  Rome,  240,  247 


Wilson,    Rev.    Father    J.    P.    (of 

Downside),  230 
Wilson,  Adam,  328 
Wilson,  W.  W.  (gaoler),  312 
Windeyer,   Richard,  2,37 
Windsor     (and    district),    41,    88, 

89,   92,    113,    126,    150,    166,    171, 

258,  313 
Wingecarribee  Swamp,  276 
Wollondilly   (district),  324 
Wollongong,  56 
Wollstonecraft,     Edward,    49,   81, 

131 
Woolloomooloo,  155 

Yarra  Yarra   (station),  277 
Yarrington,  Rev.  W.  H.  H.,  143-4 
Yass  (and  district),  179,  196,  323, 

341,  343 
Young,  Father,  269,  270 
Young,  Mr.  (overseer),  214 


W.  C.  Penfold  &  Co.  Ltd.,  Printers,  88  Pitt  Street,  Sydney 


THE  AUSTRALIAN   HISTORICAL 
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LIFE  OF  CAPTAIN  MATTHEW  FLINDERS, 
R.N.  By  Ernest  Scott,  Professor  of 
History  in  the  University  of  Melbourne. 
With  38  portraits,  maps,  facsimiles,  and 
other  illustrations,  21s. 

SOME  EARLY  RECORDS  OF  THE  MAC- 
ARTHURS  OF  CAMDEN.  Edited  by  S. 
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other  portraits  and  illustrations,  15s. 

LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  ARCHPRIEST 
JOHN  JOSEPH  THERRY.  By  Rev.  Eris 
M.  O'Brien,  Professor  of  Australian  History 
at  St.  Patrick's  Ecclesiastical  College, 
Manly.  With  37  portraits,  facsimiles,  and 
other  illustrations,  25s. 

ANGUS  &  ROBERTSON  LIMITED 
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O'BRIEN,  E.M,  ^ 

Life  and  letters  ©f  ,  „  , 

John  Joseph  Therry. 

•  T4